A Complete Unknown is a 2024 American biographical musical drama film directed and co-written by James Mangold. The film is based on the life of legendary American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, particularly focusing on the period when he abandoned traditional folk music and turned to electric guitar and rock music, causing a major cultural controversy. The film is based on Elijah Wald’s book Dylan Goes Electric! and takes its title from a line in Dylan’s famous song “Like a Rolling Stone”. Bob Dylan is played by Timothée Chalamet, who learned to play guitar and harmonica for the role and also traveled to his old haunts to get a deeper insight into Dylan’s life. The film features talented actors like Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Boyd Holbrook in supporting roles. The 141-minute film presents Dylan’s struggles, his quest for creative freedom, and the turning points in his life with sensitivity and artistry, making it a special experience for music lovers and biographical film aficionados.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | A Complete Unknown |
| Director | James Mangold |
| Screenwriters | James Mangold, Jay Cocks |
| Based on | Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald |
| Genre | Biographical Musical Drama |
| Producer(s) | Peter Jaysen, James Mangold, Alex Heineman, Timothée Chalamet, and others |
| Main Cast | Timothée Chalamet (Bob Dylan), Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro |
| Cinematography | Phedon Papamichael |
| Editing | Andrew Buckland, Scott Morris |
| Production Companies | Searchlight Pictures, Veritas Entertainment, Range Media Partners, etc. |
| Distributor | Searchlight Pictures |
| Runtime | 141 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50–70 million |
| Box Office | $140 million |
| Premiere Date | December 10, 2024 (Dolby Theatre) |
| Release Date | December 25, 2024 (United States) |
| Critical Reception | Generally positive; praised for acting and direction |
| Major Awards | 8 Academy Award nominations, SAG Award for Best Actor (Chalamet), etc. |
A Complete Unknown Story
The film A Complete Unknown is a 2024 American biopic musical drama directed by James Mangold. The story is based on the life of legendary singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, particularly the period when he moved away from traditional folk music and embraced electric guitar and rock music, which caused great controversy among his fans and the folk community.
The story begins in 1961 when a young Bob Dylan comes to New York City to visit his idol, Woody Guthrie. There he meets Pete Seeger, who introduces him to the world of folk music. Dylan’s music and lyrics gradually gain attention, but he is forced to record cover songs initially due to pressure from record companies.
Dylan meets Sylvie and the two begin a romance, but their relationship deteriorates as Dylan becomes more famous. Sylvie, on the other hand, is also troubled by his romantic and musical collaboration with Joan Baez.
In 1965, Dylan decides to perform with an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival, sparking a massive protest. The crowd is outraged, but Dylan remains firm on his new musical direction.
The film ends on an emotional note, with Dylan finding his independence but a personal relationship in tatters.
This film is not just the story of Dylan’s journey, but the story of a revolution in the world of music.
Trailer
Review
Bob Dylan is one of those artists I would classify as ‘great’, but honestly, I didn’t know him. I never seriously delved into his songs, lyrics, or history. So when I watched A Complete Unknown, it was not just an experience of understanding a film, but also of learning why Dylan is so influential in modern music history.
This film is not a traditional biopic. It focuses on a specific period in Dylan’s life – the time when he moved from folk to electric music, which shook the entire music world. It not only tells the story of his career, but also shows the complexities of his personality and the struggle of an artist to express his identity.
Dylan is known to be a mysterious and introverted person, but the film brilliantly shows different aspects of his life through his relationships – whether it was his romantic relationship with Sylvie Rousseau or his artistic and emotional collaboration with Joan Baez. Pete Seeger, who initially gave him a platform, and his manager Albert Grossman, who represents both the goodness and bitterness of the music business – through all these characters, layers of Dylan’s life are revealed.
Timothy Chalamet’s performance is remarkable. He not only brought Dylan’s personality to life on screen, but also deeply reflected his music, his mannerisms, and his dilemmas. Director James Mangold’s direction gives the film a special sensitivity and effectiveness. He had previously successfully portrayed Johnny Cash’s life in Walk the Line, engineering passion in Ford v Ferrari, and the human suffering of a fictional character in Logan. This time too, he has presented Dylan’s journey from a human perspective.
Another review underlines that after a disappointing film like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mangold gave everything in this film that the audience expected – authentic settings, beautiful cinematography, lively dialogue and mesmerizing music. Each musical performance seems to stop time and the audience gets lost in it.
This film not only gives an opportunity to understand Bob Dylan, but also shows how an artist becomes a legend when he confronts the world and embraces his truth. A Complete Unknown is one of the best films of 2024 – highly recommended.
Conclusion
A Complete Unknown is not a simple biopic but an exploration of an artist’s soul. The film effectively presents a defining phase of Bob Dylan’s life, where he breaks conventions and creates his own new identity. Timothée Chalamet’s powerful acting and James Mangold’s sensitive direction bring this story to life. The music, emotions and depth of relationships captivate the audience. This film is not just for Dylan fans, but for anyone who wants to understand art and self-expression in its truest sense.