So, picture this: it’s the early 60s. There’s this iconic folk singer, Woody Guthrie, who’s really sick in bed. Young Robert Zimmerman from Minnesota visits him, but folks know him as Bob Dylan by then. When Woody and his buddy Pete Seeger hear Dylan play, they instantly see he’s got something special.

Before you know it, Bob’s all over the New York scene in Greenwich Village. He’s making waves with his amazing mix of music and protest vibes—basically sticking it to ‘The Man’. Along the way, he gets involved with Sylvie Russo, but then starts seeing Joan Baez too. Yep, a bit of a love triangle mess.

Fast forward to 1965—things shake up big time when Dylan plugs in an electric guitar and shifts from his usual protest songs to some wild, poetic stuff influenced by Rimbaud and Dylan Thomas. Let’s just say the old Greenwich Village crowd isn’t thrilled and calls him a sellout, but on a larger scale? People can’t get enough of him.

Now trying to wrap your head around who Bob Dylan really was is no easy task between all his stories and legends that grew around him over time—and why even bother stressing? Embrace the stories about Dylan that have stuck around since then.

Director Mangold takes an interesting swing at unraveling this mystery—unlike Todd Haynes’s take where many actors play different aspects of Dylan’s character—Mangold plays it more cautious but not boringly standard either; it’s about understanding how people saw Dylan both back then and now—a tricky balance but definitely worth exploring!
out, but they do play a crucial role in shaping Dylan’s journey.

So picture this: it’s all about Dylan during his early years, rocking the folk scene with a head full of ideas and a suitcase packed with songs. Timothée Chalamet takes on the task of bringing this young, ambitious Dylan to life—aloof, maybe a little cocky. It’s like trying to decode the guy who wrote legends like “Masters of War” or “Like a Rolling Stone.” Just like in real life, this movie grapples with the mystery that is Bob Dylan—a man wrapped up in his music.

And then there’s director James Mangold’s twist. Instead of following the typical biopic formula, he leans into the music itself. It’s almost like watching a musical. Chalamet doesn’t just act; he sings Dylan’s iconic tunes, making it more about capturing a vibe than sticking strictly to life events.

Of course, this approach means squishing down some bits and taking creative liberties—like mashing up timelines or throwing Johnny Cash into important moments for dramatic flair.

Edward Norton delivers as Pete Seeger—the older mentor—and he’s both proud and pained by young Bob’s potential to outshine him someday. While the ladies aren’t as deeply explored character-wise, they still have their say in shaping Dylan’s path.

However you see it, “A Complete Unknown” offers a unique take on getting inside Bob’s head through his songs more than straight-up events from his life.
Monica Barbaro really nails the Joan Baez-like singing in this movie. She’s got those vocals down! However, when it comes to the more chatty scenes with Dylan/Chalamet, her performance isn’t as strong. Still, with a project this ambitious, some hiccups are bound to happen. Overall, A Complete Unknown pulls together these different elements into something pretty amazing and well worth watching.