A completely enthralling experience from start to finish. This is available now digitally, and will be available physically on 4/1.
“New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an unknown 19-year-old named Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) from Minnesota arrives in Greenwich Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. As he forms his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement and, refusing to be defined, makes a controversial choice that culturally reverberates worldwide. Also starring Edward Norton, Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro, this snapshot of a pivotal time in contemporary music history is directed by James Mangold from a screenplay by Mangold and Jay Cocks. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes in this film may affect photosensitive viewers.”
James Mangold may not be a name as recognizable as Steven Spielberg, but he’s quickly become a director I take notice of anytime I see something released with him at the helm. With some gems early in his career such as Cop Land and Girl, Interrupted, one of my favorite modern Western remakes 3:10 to Yuma, and of course two of the better Wolverine films franchise, he’s had a low-key but impressive career that continues to improve as time goes on. His newest film, A Complete Uknown, is more than just a biopic of Bob Dylan, it’s a celebration of songwriting, the power of music, something that was instrumental in giving the American people a voice in one of the most tumultuous times in modern history.
I’ll start off by saying I’m not a massive Bob Dylan fan besides his most popular tunes, but A Complete Uknown does for Dylan what Mangold’s previous biopic Walk the Line did for Johnny Cash, perhaps more. Not only does the film highlight the good and the bad of his life, it will make you appreciate the music more so than you might have before, and for me, just like Walk the Line, made me seek out and explore more of his songs that I had not listed to before.
The film, based on the book Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, begins exploring the origins of Dylan, his arrival Greenwich Village and the relationships that will define his entire career. His romantic relationship with Suze Rotolo, whose name is changed in the film to Sylvie Russo, played wonderfully by Elle Fanning, the basis of a lot of his early work. And of course with Joan Baez, whose tumultuous time together is portrayed as tragically as it is beautifully. Monica Barbaro, the actress playing Baez, is simply stunning in both her performance and her singing abilities that steal the attention away in most scenes she’s in. Throughout the evolution of Dylan’s career, his influential songwriting captured a generation, but just like the world around him that was sitting on a powder keg, things had to change, and that’s the focus of the second half of the film. Dylan’s shift to electric was such a controversial thing, and though it might seem silly sixty years later, you find your own meaning while watching the film, even if it’s not entirely the right reason. Despite the public opinion at the time, we’re shown what it is like to be Bob Dylan, the good and the bad, and it’s done in such a way you’re captivated from beginning to end.
Timothée Chalamet gives his absolute best performance as Bob Dylan. There really isn’t much more to say than he completely loses himself in the role and it shows. Although I don’t know how Bob Dylan acts in real life, the fictionalized version is very reserved and closed off. Chalamet is able to convey pages of description and emotion with a single look. As much as I loved Chalamet, the supporting cast elevates the film even more so. Elle Fanning has moments that outdo even Chalamet when it comes to looks conveying emotion, such as the sequence in Newport while she watches Dylan on stage. It’s not only a testament to her superb acting ability, but the direction by James Mangold to show us what she feels rather than tell us. Monica Barbaro, as I mentioned, is a superb actress and singer, and I don’t think the film would be quite the same without her talented abilities. My favorite role, however, has to go to Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. Shortly after watching the film, I looked up a video of Seeger doing a musical introduction, and the look, the voice, the cadence was spot on. It’s not simply an impersonation of the guy, but genuine emotional sequences that make you feel his passion for folk music that the real Pete Seeger undoubtedly had.
We were given a digital code to review this film, which is available now to own. Physical copies are scheduled for release on 4/1.
Although it didn’t quite perform at the Oscars, the film is personally one of my favorites of the year, and truly gives some of the most memorable performances of all involved.
