Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
Drama/Biopic | R | 2 hr 20 min
3 stars
By Reed Ripley
If a biopic has to nail one thing, it’s the subject, especially if that subject is as culture-shifting a force as Bob Dylan. It’s not about a one-for-one recreation (which often leads to Saturday Night Live-esque caricature) but about capturing the essence of someone’s life. A Complete Unknown hits that mark thanks to Timothée Chalamet’s incredible performance as Dylan, which makes an otherwise forgettable film worthwhile.
There’s a moment in the film where Dylan casually remarks to folk legend Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) that she tries too hard writing songs, and it’s a perfect encapsulation of what makes Dylan so special. His music, and especially his lyrics, feel so natural, so contemporarily resonant, that it’s as if they’ve been channeled directly through a deity to Dylan’s pen, giving voice to the reminiscent anxieties of an entire generation.
Yes, that’s hyperbolic, and many roll their eyes when haughty critics loft Dylan up so highly. That’s part of the film’s charm, though, because it openly acknowledges that pushback, poking fun at Dylan’s eccentricity in ways that often lead to the film’s funnier moments (for example, at one point, Dylan confirms that he is in fact God, in very winking fashion).
Chalamet absolutely nails his performance. Not only does he sing Dylan’s songs (around 40 total), but he also plays the guitar. Admittedly, singing Dylan’s songs is not the biggest ask, and that should have always been the barrier to entry for any actor in the role.
Chalamet convincingly singing and playing guitar (not to mention harmonica and piano) opens the door to all sorts of nuances that bring Dylan to life. He’s a quirky guy, simultaneously simple and exceedingly complex, and Chalamet gets it across brilliantly.
Other aspects keep the film from being broadly special: Love interests Baez and Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) aren’t written well, yet the film spends an inordinate amount of time with them. There’s also plenty about Chalamet’s roots in folk and eventual transition to folk rock, and the controversies that transition flared within the folk community. There are fun performances (Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie), but ultimately, the film should have more fully leaned into Chalamet’s gravity.
It’s possible that diehard Dylan fans will take issue with A Complete Unknown, but from a broader perspective, it delivers an impactful take thanks to Chalamet’s performance.
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