“A Complete Unknown” a Bob Dylan biopic which takes a look at the start of the iconic music artist’s career, with Timothee Chalamet starring as Dylan. There was a high amount of anticipation and acclaim leading to it’s recent release.
Plot and Focus
The movie begins with the 19-year old Bob Dylan in his earlier career as a folk singer. It documents his start in the music industry while making his mark in New York. Culminating with his famous controversial decision to play electric instruments at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. His journey is not fully complete in this movie leaving much to wonder for viewers who are aware of later changes.
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan
Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan has seen a mix of reactions. Some claim he made the persona his own. The actor trained in guitar and spent much time performing actual Dylan songs as his way of preparing which showcases a commitment to authenticity while playing Dylan. Others think that it was just another role. All in all Timothee’s portrayal is still one that will be talked about for a very long time.
Awards Season Momentum
"A Complete Unknown" is creating a place in many upcoming award categories, with some of that coming as another contender faced controversy. Many consider Chalamet as a top contender for the Best Actor category for his work in this movie at the 2025 Oscars .
"The Brutalist" Controversy
The film "The Brutalist" became surrounded by AI controversy as its accent alterations used software to complete the actor's role, which has made the movie lose some footing as a true contender which has helped solidify a position for "A Complete Unknown" and Chalamet’s potential for wins. Though nothing has officially been said about how this will impact judging, a clear edge now shows more with "A Complete Unknown" and Timothée Chalamet
Other Notable Performances
Alongside Chalamet, several other cast members have also made strides into recognition. They showcase the variety of talent in a movie focused on historical accuracy.
Edward Norton's Portrayal of Pete Seeger
Edward Norton’s performance as Pete Seeger a folk singer is highlighted as extremely impactful by many as a supportive character. He offers more of an honest reaction while giving way for Dylan's success on his own path with a high respect and admiration for the role which was recognized by Oscar nominations .
Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez
Monica Barbaro's part of Joan Baez a singer and partner to Dylan was a focus for some as a character with strong opinions and impact in the time period of the show. The portrayal of this powerful artist has prompted great thought in those that reviewed it by giving her more focus in a space that would not typically feature that character in this narrative.
The Movie's Production and Reception
The production of the film was a multi-location venture spanning several locations in New Jersey to create a realistic backdrop of Dylan's early career and journey to becoming a musician.
Positive and Negative Feedback
Although, The film received mostly positive reactions it still received a mix of both positives and criticisms. Some find fault that it does not adhere to strict historical order with characters sometimes appearing out of sync with their respective timeline as changes were made for cinematic structure. Others feel it stays true to form for the complicated relationship of Dylan and music at this period.
Oscar Nominations
The film was a notable achievement at the 97th Annual Academy Awards with eight nominations showcasing the overall strength of production. In addition to acting categories also gaining nominations include: best picture, adapted screenplay , costume design, and best sound. “Emilia Perez,” “The Brutalist,” and “Wicked,” were movies all contending for wins as well and could be in direct competition at these awards.
Analyzing Story Details and Accuracy
Though the story has been enjoyed a few criticisms came to surface such as chronology and omissions of character interactions. The character Sylvie Russo has the persona of being submissive while she was indeed an activist as the writers failed to portray some important details, creating some inconsistencies within that role that some reviewers didn’t take lightly.
"Biopic Syndrome" and Representation
With what is considered biopic syndrome, some state it doesn't fully explore the depth of all characters while taking many moments out of their proper historical timeline and putting things in random order. There was also not an inclusion into details about Dylan’s political influence which he later leaned into later in his career creating gaps in how viewers see the artist he eventually becomes. The film does however create a better understanding of the early days.
Key Takeaways
- "A Complete Unknown" follows the early career and development of Bob Dylan.
- Timothée Chalamet stars in this role while many other popular stars join as supportive figures of the popular character.
- The movie was nominated for multiple Academy Awards creating strong debate and discussion throughout social media.
- AI controversy may give an advantage to A Complete Unknown due to their unique character portrayals while other contenders used artificial intelligence.
- The movie will still prompt questions about what is seen and if they are fact or just creative liberties taken by filmmakers.