Over the winter break, I watched the Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown” for the first time and absolutely enjoyed every minute. It’s an excellent portrayal of Bob Dylan’s story and is a must-watch for any music lover.
The film was produced by Searchlight Pictures and Directed by James Mangold, who also directed the 2017 films “Logan” and “Ford V Ferrari.” The film stars Timothée Chalamet, who plays the famous folk musician Bob Dylan as he goes through his early musical career in the 1960s. Timothée embodies Bob Dylan’s persona, perfectly capturing Dylan’s rich and raspy voice. He also sings on most of Dylan’s popular songs, even singing some of his songs at full length.
It boasts a star-studded cast, including Monica Barbaro, Edward Norton, and Boyd Holbrook, who delivers a perfect performance as Johnny Cash.
The film begins in the early 1960s, as a 19-year-old Bob Dylan travels to a hospital to see his favorite musician, Woody Guthrie (played by Scoot McNairy). From there, he meets Pete Seegar (played by Edward Norton), who takes in Dylan and helps launch his career as a folk musician.
The film also incorporates multiple scenes from real-life events in the ’60s, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. One notable reenactment shows Bob Dylan playing at the 1963 March on Washington.
The film’s highest moment was when Dylan performed his most famous song, “Like a Rolling Stone,” at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25th, 1965. The song was performed with a complete electric set, which enraged many folk music listeners at the time. The scene shows the audience yelling and throwing items onto the stage, indicating that folk listeners at the time were not ready for Dylan’s change in genre.
One drawback was that it didn’t portray Bob Dylan’s childhood. One scene shows Dylan’s original name and how he used to work at the fair, but other than that, there’s barely any information about his early life.
The film was released in theaters on Christmas Day, 2024. It had a budget of $70 million and grossed almost $50 million in movie sales.
Overall, this movie is a must-watch for music fans interested in 1960s culture. It beautifully captures the atmosphere of the 1960s, blending incredible music with stunning visuals that make you feel as if you were transported to that time period. It’s still in theaters and best enjoyed on the big screen. Don’t miss out on an incredible movie.