A Complete Unknown
Taking place during the beginning of Dylan’s career in New York, A Complete Unknown targets maybe the artists most boring personal moments, to focus on the music that was being made and the world around him constantly changing. And let’s be clear, the music is extraordinary. This might be one of the only films that really benefited from covid forcing it to slow down filming so the cast could focus more on the craft of singing and performing. Everyone disappears into their roles. Timothée Chalamet takes on the leading role of Bob Dylan, and is unrecognizable as the goofy SNL host and booming Paul Atreides of Dune 2, that premiered earlier this year. His performance as Dlyan is extraordinary, the Oscar nomination speaking for itself. His mastery of singing and playing the guitar allows the camera to cut away from him during times of the film to focus on those around him becoming transfixed as they notice the talent they are witnessing in front of them. Monica Barbaro dazzles as Joan Baez, his long term fling and songwriting partner. Meanwhile Edward Norton and Scoot McNairy pull on their respective cloaks of mentors and guiding figures to Dylan. Norton’s character eventually becomes at odds with the very kid he helped propel to great heights, and the crackling charisma between the Chalamet and Norton exhilarates.
The story itself isn’t that dazzling, rooted in the growing of Dylan’s music as he records covers, eventually his own folk songs, and then transitioning to his electric rock n’ roll style. Despite this, the movie grounds itself in the performances of the women he’s starring across from. Along with Barbaro, Elle Fanning as one of his first major love interests, keeps the film focused on the characters. It’s easy to get swept up in the mysticism of Dylan and his fantastical stories and talents, but the people that he surrounds himself with remind the audience that sometimes he could be a real jackass to those that cared about him, as he was interested in finding out who he was, and who he wasn’t, both in his personal life and music.
The movie almost feels like an extended music video to show all of the early Dylan songs, and is sure to inspire an entirely new generation to the plethora of records the artist has released, and the interesting story of his life that continues to unravel before our very eyes. As a best picture contender, it’s not on the forefront, but all of the performances that have been nominated ought to be.