A Complete Unknown

Official Australian release date: 23/1/25. Viewed: 26/1/25.
Director: James Mangold
Actors: Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning
Genre: Drama / Biopic
Rating: M
 

‘A Complete Unknown’ is not the first Bob Dylan biopic, but does a good job of just focusing on his early years as a recording/performing artist when he gets to New York, from 1961–1965. Dylan is portrayed excellently by Chalamet and you sometimes forget it’s not a documentary! We follow his first relationships, with Joan Baez (Barbaro) and Sylvie (Fanning), and arguably as importantly, how he meets his folk music heroes Woody Guthrie (McNairy) and Pete Seeger (Norton).

Director Mangold (of ‘Logan’ fame) knows what he’s doing, having also directed ‘Walk The Line’. In this film, Johnny Cash is played by Boyd Holbrook and a few great cameos. While not focusing solely on having the audience listen to Dylan songs, we do get to hear/see a few of them from this period, which is impressive if it’s actually Chalamet (& Barbaro) doing their own singing! All the actors are good, especially Norton with his prosthetic nose, and also a notable effort from Grossman (Fogler).

There’s obviously some artistic licences/liberties taken, and Dylan is left feeling as enigmatic as ever. Plenty of funny moments, and some great set design make it look exactly like 1960s New York. As good as, if not better than, ‘I’m Not There’, mostly thanks to the great acting and singing performances.

Overall: Well-made biopic of a legend

Gav's Rating: 4 stars