A Complete Unknown (2024 | US | 140 minutes | James Mangold)
Based closely on the events of Bob Dylan’s life, A Complete Unknown follows the man himself from stepping fresh-faced into NYC to the height of his popularity as he alienates almost everyone who cares about him. We’re introduced to a young Dylan(Timotheé Chalamet) freshly arrived in New York City by way of Minnesota. He meanders around the city in hopes of finding his idol, finally discovering the legendary Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) in a New Jersey hospital bed accompanied by close friend Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Seeger heard a couple songs off-the-cuff of the young artist and knew he was hearing something really special. Finding small venues that would let Dylan on stage jumpstarted his notable career and introduced him to a very young Joan Baez who would be entangled with the bard for many years after.
The film continues to follow his exploits including meeting his live-in girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning) (based on his real-life relationship with Suze Rotolo) as well as young star-on-the-rise Joan Baez. Too consumed with his own needs as the film, and his career, progresses we see most relationships he’d gained after arriving in NYC crumble. By the way he was treating each of them, it’s surprising to me he even cared if he had those folks in his life or not.
As a casual Bob Dylan fan, I was intrigued by a semi-biographical film about his earlier career (especially with Chalamet in the lead role). That being said, I didn’t really know about the man himself or how he treated those that not only helped him with his career but genuinely cared for him as a human being beyond the stage. Garbage, that’s how he treated them. If the film was even a little bit like the real thing, I am glad I never came to love him or his music. Stress under pressure and unwanted fame can do a lot to a person, and I get that, but this was another level of incredulous and callous behavior.
Anyway, the story was well-told. Chalamet and Norton were very convincing in their respective roles not only in personality but aurally as well. I just had a hard time getting past what went down between Bobby and his “friends”, especially when he nearly destroyed a well-established folk festival that bosom-buddy Pete Seeger had worked so very hard to build.
A Complete Unknown arrives in theaters on Christmas day, 12/25