REVIEW: “A Complete Unknown”
“James Mangold’s, “A Complete Unknown” is the perfect Friday night I’m-dating-myself destination” (Makayla Wrigley).
January 13, 2025
Makayla Wrigley, Editor
James Mangold’s, “A Complete Unknown” is the perfect Friday night I’m-dating-myself destination. As a 20 year old girl with the soul (and music taste) of a Woodstock 1969 attendee, this film fueled a flame within me that only a beautiful biopic can provide.
Released on Christmas Day 2024, this film, starring heartthrob Timothée Chalamet, brings to life the early days of Bob Dylan’s career with remarkable depth and charm. Starting with nothing but a Woody Guthrie record and an acoustic guitar, 20 year old Bob Dylan seeks out the start of his career in music. The film takes us through his accelerated growth as an artist and the challenges he faces along the way. Navigating through love affairs and the pressure of being a folk artist while rock was on the rise, Dylan’s rollercoaster of a career was more than movie-worthy.
Mangold masterfully captures the mysterious essence of Bob Dylan. The poet and prophet who was grappling with his own myth in the making. Timothee Chalamet’s performance was magnetic, majestic, vulnerable and uncanny in precision. Through incredible method acting, he takes us through this transformative era of music.
The cinematography by Phedon Papamichael is a feast for the senses. For anyone who has caught themselves wishing they could’ve lived through the 1960s music scene, this film will give you the nostalgia, nuance and escapism you’re looking for.
What truly makes this film standout is its refusal to idolize Bob Dylan as a flawless hero. The film perfectly captures his restlessness, constant reinvention and the way he alienated those who were closest to him. Rather than romanticizing his love life, the director did a fabulous job at portraying his inability to maintain relationships as his biggest character flaw.
Mangold’s direction balances reverence for Dylan’s legacy with an honest exploration of his flaws. It’s a coming-of-age story that resonates far beyond Dylan’s generation, a reminder that growth often requires discomfort and defiance, whether that’s in the eye of the public or not.
For fans of Dylan’s music, folk music or simply great storytelling, “A Complete Unknown” offers an unforgettable cinematic experience as timeless as Bob Dylan’s art. For this self proclaimed old soul, it was nothing short of cathartic. Lingering like the echo of a harmonica or the hum of some nylon-strung acoustic guitar, this movie has stuck with me for weeks after the credits rolled.
