Review: A Complete Unknown

In the 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrived in New York with a guitar in hand, destined to change the music industry forever. As moments from his life unfold on screen, director James Mangold strives to reveal the complexities behind one of the biggest enigmas in the music world.

“A Complete Unknown” is a beautifully crafted story about Dylan’s career. In the film, a young Bob Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet, is befriended by folk music legends Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). We witness how his rise to fame impacts his relationships with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), and the entire folk music community as he strives to lead the genre into a new generation. While some people push back against his evolving style and feel he is abandoning the folk tradition, other artists, like Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook), encourage and applaud his vision.

Mangold is experienced in creating musical biopics and can delve into a person’s psyche to explain their motivations. Since Bob Dylan is a rolling stone who genuinely doesn’t care about fame, some aspects of his life and his choices remain a mystery. Chalamet fully embodies the role, becoming a remarkable mirror image of Dylan. Through his astonishing performance and the captivating narrative, additional layers are revealed about this enigmatic figure.

This beautifully crafted movie features an incredible lead performance supported by excellent actors like Edward Norton. It’s not only enjoyable to watch, but it’s also worth rewatching and will introduce Bob Dylan to a new generation. By the end of the film, Dylan still feels like a mystery, which is intentional, as there will always be aspects of this elusive figure that remain a complete unknown.