Unveiled Review: Impeccable Bob Dylan Biopic Worthy of Your Time
Hollywood's Mad Venture: A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan Biopic
If you're choosing a music legend to star in your blockbuster film, you'd likely opt for someone like Elvis or The Beatles. But not the enigmatic Bob Dylan. His quirks, raspy voice, and mysterious past make him a peculiar pick. Yet, James Mangold, the nutty director behind A Complete Unknown, dived headfirst into the challenge.
To make this complex endeavor manageable, Mangold wisely narrowed the timeline, covering Dylan's formative years from 1961 to 1965. This journey takes us from Dylan's quiet entrance into New York City in his late teens to the infamous Newport Folk Festival set, where Dylan caused a stir by rocking out live for the first time.
ahlone during those momentous events in pop history, we get some romantic tangles (a semi-fictional love triangle involving singer Joan Baez and Dylan's on-again, off-again lover Sylvie), political turmoil (the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights Movement), and plenty of Timothée Chalamet looking cool as a cucumber in dark sunglasses while riding a motorbike. The story is framed by Dylan's ongoing battle to preserve his artistic freedom amid a burgeoning recording industry and traditionalist musicians like Edward Norton's gentle folk poet Pete Seeger, who endeavor to keep him away from the "rambunctious," modern rock 'n' roll.
Chalamet was completely dedicated to his role, spending five years prepping with vocal, guitar, and dialect coaches, and even avoiding visitors on set to maintain his character focus. His efforts paid off, as Chalamet delivers a spectacular performance that shines through every sardonic eyebrow raise and thoughtful guitar strum.
Aside from Norton's Seeger, we have Monica Barbaro as a fiery and funny Baez, Dan Fogler as the eccentric manager Albert Grossman, Boyd Holbrook as a melancholic Johnny Cash, and Elle Fanning as Sylvie, a character based on Suze Rotolo, beautifully portraying her fragility when Bob mistreats her. It's worth mentioning that Dylan can be somewhat of a jerk in the film, a trait justified by Dylanologists as historically accurate. However, his unpleasantness may make it hard for audiences to root for him, and we don't get much insight into his background, leaving us yearning for a deeper exploration of his enigmatic character.
Despite this minor setback, the film truly shines during the performances. From Baez and Dylan's bickering duets to Dylan capturing the anxiety of an entire city during a Cold War protest song, the music is spot-on, making any Dylan newcomer eager to dive into his catalog. For longtime fans, the next few weeks will be spent creating playlists of deep cuts or delving into the lore behind lesser-known scenes. It's clear: it was a daring move to make this film, but a good one.
Director: James MangoldStarring: Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Edward NortonRelease date: Out in UK cinemas on January 17, in US cinemas on December 25
The article "A Complete Unknown" review: don't think twice about seeing this brilliant Bob Dylan biopic was first published on NME.
Insights:
- A Complete Unknown focuses on a specific period of Bob Dylan's career, rather than attempting a comprehensive biopic (source: 1).
- The film's release is scheduled for January 17 in UK cinemas and December 25 in US cinemas (source: 1).
- Timothée Chalamet spent five years preparing for his role as Bob Dylan, incorporating extensive vocal, guitar, and dialect coaching, and maintaining strict character focus on set to ensure authenticity (source: 1).
- A Complete Unknown explores themes of artistic struggle, identity, and the tension between creative expression and commercial expectations (source: 1).
During the film, Timothée Chalamet delivers a stellar performance as Bob Dylan, showcasing his talent for rock music and acting. The movie is set amidst the tumultuous 1960s, filled with pop events, exciting movies-and-tv programs, and rock music breaks that provide an entertaining backdrop to the story. Timothée's diligent preparation, which included five years of vocal, guitar, and dialect training, highlights the unique blend of entertainment elements within the movie.
