From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, it seemed like every type of person you could think of filled the theater.
Three words I would use to describe this movie:
Awe-inspiring.
Infuriating.
Beautiful.
“A Complete Unknown,” the story of Bob Dylan, features Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet. Director James Mangold, who is known for “The Greatest Showman” and “Girl, Interrupted,” took over five years to produce this movie, and it shows in this accurate and moving portrayal of Dylan that is based on the book “Dylan Goes Electric” by Elijah Wald.
It starts by panning to young Bobby Dylan in the trunk of a cluttered station wagon.
He was a humble and unsure 20-year-old wanting to share his passion for music and songwriting with one of his heroes, Woody Guthrie, a folk music icon.
From the moment Dylan and Guthrie first meet to the very last minute of its runtime, viewers witness Guthrie’s influence on Dylan’s music. This storyline adds a sense of deeply relatable emotion to the almost otherworldly life of Bob Dylan.
Viewers meet many other influential figures to Dylan’s music like Sylvie, his first love, Joan Baez, a tumultuous fling, Johnny Cash, an inspiration and Pete Seeger, the man who got him into the Newport Folk Festival lineup. All of these characters showed deep admiration for Bob Dylan, which was often unrequited.
These dynamics are excellently written, showing many facets of Dylan that aren’t often seen, like his life pre and post-fame and feelings toward being in the public eye.
The plot portrays Bob Dylan making music for himself without care for what critics or fans think of him. The entire movie builds up to his 1965 performance at Newport, the first noteworthy genre shift of a musician, and one of the most controversial moments of Dylan’s career.
His first brush with success was at Newport, where he sang “The Times They Are A-Changin.”
This inspiring performance brought tears to my eyes both times I paid to see it in theaters.
The genuine smile on Dylan’s face and watching his dreams of connecting with people through music come true before his eyes were awe-inspiring. However, this performance’s carefree tone quickly shifts to an estrangement with his status.
Within five minutes, the audience sees his attitude towards fans, the people in his life and his music all take a sharp turn towards a youthful hotshot’s arrogance.
A parallel that stuck with me was two shots of him in a taxi cab at two very different moments of his career. In the first shot, he is being chased by fans who are rapping on the window and shouting how much they love him. The second shot is after his last Newport performance, and he is alone in a cab looking distraught and almost regretful.
The chaos and outrage of the Newport audience after the performance contrasts with the silent frustration of the cab ride home, creating tension and shock in the theater.
This was one of the only moments where Dylan was visibly distressed by the idea of not being celebrated.
Bob Dylan remained uninfluenced by the opinions of others. He made music for and through his passion for songwriting. He made music for himself, without the desire or need for anyone to listen.
The attention to detail, from facial expressions to recreations of iconic outfits like Dylan’s green polka dot button-up, and his array of leather jackets is what makes this movie feel so true to his character. Timothée Chalamet also has a youthful edge that brings 1965 Bob Dylan to the 21st century.
The pacing was a little confusing, but it made it apparent how quickly Dylan rose to fame. The muted technicolor filter in every scene made it beautiful to watch, and the slight grain of the camera quality made the film so immersive.
Sometimes it was easy to dislike Bob Dylan’s arrogance and his treatment of romantic partners. But, it was made even easier to be inspired by his undeniable influence on music and pop culture; an influence that is still felt to this day.
This movie appealed to me in every way, and I would see it a third time. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars.
