The biopic genre has been controversial in recent years. Film critics and viewers alike have called out their repetitive storytelling methods and the praised lead performances awarded only for impressive imitation.
Despite these critiques of the genre, Bob Dylan’s biopic, “A Complete Unknown” is refreshing and filled with impressive performances all around.
The film takes place between 1961 and 1965. Arriving in New York with only a guitar in hand, we’re given no background into what drives Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) or his music.
The first time we hear Dylan sing is for folk legend Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), and it catches the attention of Guthrie’s long-time friend and collaborator Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), who ultimately helps propel Dylan into folk stardom.
The relationship between Dylan and Seeger starts as a mentorship but is ultimately left behind as Dylan moves on from making traditional folk music.
Seeger, committed to preserving what he defines as “traditional folk music” and the voice of the American folksong revival, is against this transition up until Dylan’s last performance during the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
The audience hears opinions from all sides of those in Dylan’s life trying to convince him to “do the right thing” and play traditional folk, but ultimately it’s Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook) who influences Dylan to “Make some noise, B.D. Go track some mud on the carpet.”
Dylan, armed with a controversial electric band and his trusty harmonica, uses his closing performance at the festival to challenge what Seeger and others wanted “traditional folk music” to be, marking the turning point in Seeger’s opinion of Dylan’s new sound.
Throughout the film, Chalamet isn’t just playing Bob Dylan; he becomes Dylan. We get lost in how Chalamet presents Dylan as a hypnotizing, mysterious presence as he floats from scene to scene crafting lyrics and a sound that brings in more and more people.
Monica Barbaro also stands out throughout the film as the dominating presence of Joan Baez, who steals the show in her duet of “It Ain’t Me Babe” with Dylan.
While the role of the forgotten lover is almost stereotypical of the musician biopic, Elle Fanning, who plays Dylan’s first girlfriend, Sylvie Russo, is her own person in the film and represents those lost in the magnetic power of Dylan’s prowess.
In “A Complete Unknown,” Dylan isn’t depicted as an untouchable star, but as a relatable, starving artist. We watch him discover new sounds like the siren whistle used in “Highway 61 Revisited” and a new electric rock sound that he ultimately transitioned to in his later career.
Bob Dylan goes from feeling stuck in the folk bubble to branching off into an experimental sound, becoming one of the pioneers of folk rock. The movie encapsulates the “experimental creative” and was made for those who want to put their artwork into a world that may not be ready for it.
“A Complete Unknown” is now nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Merit in directing, actor in a Leading Role, actor in a Supporting Role, actress in a Supporting Role and Best Picture.
“A Complete Unknown” is in theaters now.
This article was edited by Alia Messina, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Emma Brown, Charlie Mennuti, Ella Rousseau and Ariana Kavoossi.
