A Complete Unknown (2024)
Directed by James Mangold
[Rated R] 2hr 20min
★★★
A Complete Unknown is a music biopic about Bob Dylan’s rise to fame and his personal struggles during that time. The story depicts major events in his life from his first visit to see Woody Guthrie in 1961 as an unknown musician to his headlining performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
This is a fairly standard biopic made really well. Many individual aspects are great on their own, but they never come together in a meaningful way to strengthen the overall narrative. However, the acting is a major highlight of the film that keeps it relatively engaging, as Timothée Chalamet completely transforms into Bob Dylan and performs all the music flawlessly. In addition, Edward Norton is exceptional as Pete Seeger, a likeable and good-natured mentor to Bob, who provides a compelling contrast to Bob’s unpleasant and reckless personality. While everything else outside of the cast is at least decent, there aren’t any other elements that contribute to elevating the story beyond a mere depiction of historical events. As a result, the film can occasionally feel dull and drawn-out, especially towards the end of its runtime.
I only recommend A Complete Unknown to fans of Bob Dylan and his music, as it effectively conveys his life experiences but doesn’t have much more to offer in terms of its narrative. The film feels a bit cold and detached despite the excellent performances, but it’s still worth watching for those interested in Bob Dylan’s personal history and his development as a musician.
A Complete Unknown is now playing in theaters. Click here to watch the Official Teaser.
– Review by Will Hopper