Writer/Director: James Mangold
Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton and Elle Fanning
‘A Magnificent Biopic’
When it comes to musicians that deserve recognition, it’s worth discussing Bob Dylan. Achieving fame years ago, Dylan created a legacy that’s far from shallow. A divine musician, Dylan’s love for melodies that shine never did decline. Like a rolling stone, Dylan was a well-known singer in a league of his own. On a personal level, I find Bob Dylan’s strong passion for music relatable. Years ago, I formed a friendship with a kid seeking to be a maestro. Born with abilities to entertain, he left people singing in the rain. Drawn to the profound sound of music, he found enjoyment creating songs leaving audiences spellbound. He had an ear for singing songs which people loved to hear. Shining a ray of light in darkness, music contributed towards his happiness. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a friend composing every song. It seems like it was yesterday that I befriended a kid seeking melodies to play. I would marvel at a friend that had the beautiful voice of an angel. Fond of playing guitar, he seemed born to be a commemorated star. However, drug addiction ended relationships forever. When he became addicted to weed, my friend gave up desire to succeed. Realizing times were changing, he lost interest in a musician he found inspiring. As he became addicted to drugs, our friendship deteriorated. Years later, I treasure a commemorated musician reminding me of a compassion that changed my life forever.
As someone treasuring a friend that sought to become a musician that was well-known, I adored “A Complete Unknown”. Released in 2024, James Mangold’s Oscar-nominated movie honoured Bob Dylan. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is Timothee Chalamet, who embodies the iconic musician. Although “A Complete Unknown” is a magnificent biopic, is isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it offers heartwarming entertainment that fans of Bob Dylan won’t be able to resist.
Set in 1960’s New York, “A Complete Unknown” tells the true story of how Bob Dylan became a musician that’s well-known. Timothee Chalamet portrays Bob Dylan, a young singer with bright dreams of success. Assisted by his longtime friend musician Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), Dylan sets out to become a renowned singer. However, Dylan’s dreams are threatened by forces of fate that impact his ability to become a singer. Facing a dilemma, Dylan questions whether it’s possible to become a great singer in America.
James Mangold is fascinated with musicians. His award-winning movie “Walk the Line” celebrated the country singer Johnny Cash whose melodies shine. With “A Complete Unknown”, however, Mangold created his first Bob Dylan biopic. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the life of a renowned folk singer, but he succeeded. Inspired by Dexter Fletcher’s “Rocketman”, Mangold effectively uses reaction shots capturing a musician with love for singing. For instance, reaction shots elevate the hospital scene. During this heartfelt scene, a patient in a hospital reacts with joy when Bob Dylan performs a private song for him. It reminded me of my astonishment when I saw my friend perform melodies that I appreciated. Reaction shots are tricky techniques. As Taylor Hackford’s “Ray” suggested, reaction shots elevate biopics about jazz musicians. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Mangold captures an inspiring country singer whose performances left audiences stirring.
Another admirable aspect of “A Complete Unknown” that’s worth discussing is the production-design. Inspired by Bradley Cooper’s “A Star is Born”, Mangold effectively uses live-singing capturing a musician composing melodies. Unlike most music biopics in which songs are pre-recorded, Mangold had the actors sing live on set. For instance, live-singing elevates the Newport Festival concert scene. During this unforgettable scene, Bob Dylan delivers a captivating musical performance to a crowd in a televised concert. It brought back fond memories of my friend that had abilities to captivate audiences through singing melodies. Live-singing is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” suggested, live-singing elevates Broadway musical adaptations. However, it works immensely in this movie. Through phenomenal production-design, Mangold honours a celebrated musician whose melodies shine.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “A Complete Unknown” is a classic about musicians that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture broken romantic relationships of a musician. For instance, silence elevates the romantic affair scene. During this unforgettable scene, Sylvie refuses to speak with Bob after she discovers his affair. Through this silence, Mangold creates a compelling musician audiences easily relate to. It reminded me of my broken bond with a friend that became silent when his love for music deteriorated. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name” suggested, silence elevates LGBTQ movies. Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” demonstrated that silence elevates science-fiction movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Mangold captures musicians facing a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Timothee Chalamet delivers one of his best performances as Bob Dylan. Chalamet first achieved praise for playing queer lovers in LGBTQ dramas. With “A Complex Unknown”, however, the actor took a step out of his comfort zone by playing a singer that’s well-known. It’s a commemorated role that gave the actor a chance to showcase his flair for singing melodies that he hadn’t shown before in his career. With mesmerizing expressions, he captured the angst, determination and resentments of a commemorated musician. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated young actors working today.
While the film is mainly a showcase for Chalamet, the supporting cast is also worthy of recognition. Edward Norton is excellent, capturing the compassion of a renowned folk musician that forms a long-lasting friendship with Bob Dylan. Elle Fanning is captivating, capturing frustrations of Bob Dylan’s girlfriend that faces a heartbreaking crisis when she discovers he is having an affair that’s shocking. Lastly, Boyd Holbrook merits recognition. As Johnny Cash, he does an extraordinary job of portraying a renowned musician.
Finally, “A Complete Unknown” will earn everyone’s appreciation for honouring a musician that’s well-known. Unlike most music biopics, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. The film discusses relatable themes such as career, friendship and trauma. It delivers a heartwarming message about the importance of pursuing one’s dreams which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “A Complete Unknown” is one of those rare commemorated musical biopic which everyone will definitely adore.
Despite its universal appeal, however, “A Complete Unknown” can’t quite honour a musician that’s in a league of his own. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engrossing pacing. Mangold’s decisions to integrate love subplots about Bob Dylan’s romances into the film is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. As Bryan Singer’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” suggested, subplots of romantce elevate biopics about Queen. Consequently, “A Complete Unknown” can’t quite honour a legendary musician that is well-known.
Fans of Bob Dylan will definitely appreciate “A Complete Unknown” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A mesmerizing musical biopic, it celebrates a renowned folk musician that built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly 60 years after Bob Dylan developed a love for singing transforming into a musician that’s awe-inspiring, it’s a riveting reminder of a singer that built a lasting legacy earning a huge following for his abilities to create songs which were captivating whose timeless melodies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
As powerful as Bob Dylan’s love for music, it has motivated me to move on many years after the tragic end of my friendships with a close companion seeking to become a musician that experienced catastrophic drug addiction whose inspirational words of wisdom motivated me to accomplish dreams of becoming a film critic.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 