A Complete Unknown

"🌟7/10🌟 A Complete Unknown captures Bob Dylan’s dramatic transformation from a Woody Guthrie-inspired folk singer in 1961 to a rebellious rock star by 1965, while also delving into his complex relationship with Joan Baez. The movie also paints a vivid picture of Dylan’s genius and flaws, as well as the toll his brilliance took on those around him. #music #biopic #rockandroll #folkmusic #History #BobDylan #JoanBaez #60sMusic #Culturalicons #Musicicons ▪️MY TAKE: Embarrassingly, I didn’t even realize Bob Dylan was still alive! (I had to “Google”)…. He’s famously introverted, a bit of an enigma, and avoids the limelight, which the film captures perfectly— Anyhoo, I wasn’t much of a Dylan fan until he joined The Traveling Wilburys during my coming-of-age years in the late ’80s/early ’90s. That band was stacked with icons: George Harrison (The Beatles), Jeff Lynne (ELO), Roy Orbison (rock ’n’ roll legend), Tom Petty (my fave🫶), and, of course, Dylan. I actually preferred the “sound” of his son Jakob Dylan’s band, The Wallflowers, but after watching this movie, I’ve gained a new appreciation for Bob Dylan’s music and his monumental contributions to #musichistory. His songs—and #folkmusic in general—always sounded more poetic than rock or pop, often reflecting on social and political themes. It’s no surprise he was awarded the #NobelPrize in Literature in 2016! (something else I didn’t know). ▪️ BOTTOM LINE: It’s not as #epic or nearly as thrilling as the Freddie Mercury #biopic, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, but it’s definitely informative, and I still enjoyed it."

"4.5⭐️ I loved this biopic. And loved Timothée Chalamet in it. Especially surprising since I was disappointed at hearing he was cast in the role. I know some reading this will want to throw rocks at me but fluffy dark hair and fitting the right age range doesn’t mean pulling off a young Bob Dylan. I didn’t think he would draw the depth, and well, was just too pretty. How could he possibly capture Dylan’s offbeat looks and manner? Boy was I wrong. Timothée is not only shockingly effective, but his performance is nuanced and magnetic in carrying off Dylan’s unique presence and unmistakable vocal rhythm. He hits just the right note and tone in every aspect, somehow never falling into affectation, which would be difficult for any actor. In fact everything about this film feels almost perfectly authentic. Place and setting, the political climate and unrest, the way popular music (and certainly Dylan’s) was indelibly intertwined with the chaotic zeitgeist of the time, the production, set and costume design (all 👨‍🍳💋!), even Dylan’s look down to each tousled curl placement (lol), AND each actor and their respective musical performances ~ everything meticulously done. Yes..THE MUSIC .. just wow! There is a transcendence there that belies acting and imparts some beautifully enraptured moments. For those 2+ hours the 60s were vividly alive. Gotta admit though .. I never got the Dylan thing. Wasn’t into his music, could not comprehend the god-like, poet-of-his-generation adoration, and honestly..his voice..😬 This film, however, masterfully lays down the context for it all in a way that transfixes but also helped me see his genius more clearly. Yet does so without deification. It’s a “warts and all” portrayal, showing his complexity, ego, selfishness and frequent lack of regard for the people surrounding him. It is very much about the raw humanity of a flawed and brilliant person. I came away with feelings I wasn’t expecting to have. And dare I say.. wanting more. "

"This was boring. Really boring. "

"This was actually a very good movie overall. This is a very interesting look into the early years of Bob Dylan’s life with particular focus on his early career start. What really stands out is that it does not shy away from showing his negative side either. Phenomenally well acted by the entire cast who do a really good job of inhabiting the characters, with Timothee Chalamet in particular standing out in an Oscar nomination-worthy performance as Bob Dylan (he did a remarkable job of modulating his speaking and singing voice to match Dylan). Special shout out to Edward Norton (really good makeup job to make him look like Pete Seeger), Elle Fanning, and Monica Barbaro as well. A very solid effort from director James Mangold. Worth a watch for sure. Side Note: The fact that this film contains scenes with Johnny Cash was surreal considering the same director also made a Cash biopic (WALK THE LINE) with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon (it is on my watchlist now)."

"7 out of 10"

"I enjoyed watching this but wasn’t as good as everyone made it out to be, IMO. Chalamet did an outstanding job playing Bob especially with singing the songs himself. This guy has talent! "

"3½⭐ +The craftsmanship is out-of-this-world and into the 60's good. The acting is great in some places and really good in others. Timothy Chalamet, Edward Norton, and Monica Barbaro being the former. All the rest being the latter. The music is first rate and the classic Hollywood structure is so, so, so well done. - Bob Dylan himself is an enigma in cultural history, much like Bowie. He is all the versions of himself and none of them. So why focus your lens on Dylan with a traditional structure that would be more suitable for a figure like Mick Jagger or Paul McCartney? When the superhero craze was in full effect James Mangold focused on a beastly character that kills, curses, heals when wounded, and has a drinking problem. When tackling his first music biopic he chose the guitar slinger, Johnny Cash and kept him complex and undefined, even if it did present him in the Hollywood tradition. Here he takes Dylan in ONE stage of his life where he transitions from folk to electric and uses it as a springboard for a statement about artistic vision and the limitations that formula and craft can sometimes place on it. Yet it is so definable in how it unfolds, and defines Dylan just enough, that it becomes a disappointing Hollywood formula movie where the artistry that went into the making of the world upstages even the idea of the enigmatic poet/artist and makes him and the movie, as well made as it is, as uninteresting as the countless movies that came before it, using the same Hollywood tricks. The love triangle; the goofy scuffle at the end; the f-you moment at the folk festival; all limit it, and makes the play of cinema form weak. This is, if nothing, a crowd-pleaser, but did Dylan ever aim to please the crowd, and by extension the institutions that pandered to them? A movie doesn't always have to challenge us, but at least pick a subject that is better suited for this style and form."

"I’m really torn on this one. It’s an incredibly well made biopic. The central performance by Chalamet, who continues to show he’s worthy of the hype, and the supporting roles from Ed Norton, Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro are all on point. The period setting is seamless and the musical performances and character interactions are believable. The central conflicts and themes are well articulated and the film’s pacing is strong. It’s hard to see how you could do a conventional musical biopic any better. The problem is that it is a conventional biopic. Dylan was a revolutionary figure who constantly challenged and redefined form and narrative. To see him confined to such generic film structure feels incredibly limiting. Maybe that’s the point, to humanize him. To show he’s just a guy, who was a preternaturally gifted songwriter, but was also capable of being an egotistical asshole. (Telling Joan Baez that her songs were like “an oil painting at the dentist's office” was brutally cruel). Maybe I’m just more interested in the myth than the man but I found that Todd Hayne’s more adventurous 2007 film I’m Not There did a much better job capturing the spirit of Dylan. 3.75 out of 5 Stars"

"At the end of this movie everyone in the theater clapped it was that good. Bob is who he is ,loves to write music and sing. He isn’t in it for fame and fortune. He definitely stands up for injustices. He co wrote the song Hurricane for Ruben Hurricane Carter for his wrongful imprisonment. (In the movie Hurricane) Loved that it was about the beginning of his career. Worth checking out ✌️"

"Solid biopic overall. The acting is the film's greatest strength. Timothe Chalamet gives an award winning performance and sounds nearly identical to Bob Dylan. Some aspects of Dylan's life were really interesting, but it didn't keep my attention glued the entire time. A lot of the "singing" scenes were drawn out too long for my liking. Also, the movie itself felt a bit long. Besides that, it's a good movie. "