Bob Dylan is his own man, someone who has forged his own path in music, not restricted by convention.
A Complete Unknown focuses on what he did and how he did it between 1961 to 1965.
Arriving unannounced, with guitar in hand, as a 19-year-old, Dylan seeks out the legendary Woody Guthrie, who is in a veterans’ hospital in New Jersey.
With Guthrie is fellow folk singer of renown Pete Seeger.
Dylan plays Guthrie – who is in a bad way, unable to speak (he has Huntington’s disease) – a song he wrote for him.
Both Seeger and Guthrie immediately recognise his talent.
Seeger opens doors for him and without pretence … with just raw talent, Dylan taps into the culture of the time.
Anti-war and civil rights activism are prominent. The US is grappling with profound social, political and cultural upheaval.
Dylan’s rise is meteoric.
So, too, his discomfort with the fandom that follows, notwithstanding his pleasure to receive the endorsement of one of the biggest names at the time, Johnny Cash.
The film explores Dylan’s intimate relationships too.
Specifically, it covers his time with artist and freedom fighter Sylvie Russo (a surrogate for the real-life Suze Rotolo) and Joan Baez.
Dylan is very much painted as a wandering soul, who was fickle in affairs of the heart.
Although he was wholeheartedly embraced by the folk music movement, A Complete Unknown shows how he upset the status quo by adopting the electric guitar.
Everything comes to a head at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
This is one mighty fine film that captures the essence of one of the most accomplished singer songwriters in history.
It was co-written (with Jay Cocks – Silence) by director James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari), whose dedication to authenticity is impressive.
The look, the feel and the sound of the times are all captured skilfully. As Dylan wrote: The Times They Are A-Changin’.
The actors did their own singing and playing, and nailed it after five years of work on the project.
Vocally, they are awesome. And, of course, the music is … well the music – the hits and the lesser-known numbers. I am a huge Dylan fan, so say no more.
But even if you aren’t, this is a story beautifully told.
Timothée Chalamet is luminous as the enigma that is Bob Dylan, driven by the beat of his own drum. Chalamet is aloof and restless and unrelenting.
Elle Fanning wears her heart on her sleeve as Sylvie Russo, who time and again had her heart broken. Her adoration and her disappointment show.
With her mellifluous tone, Monica Barbaro is a revelation as Joan Baez. I could readily lose myself in those golden tonsils any day.
As Pete Seeger, Edward Norton is painted as one of the good guys whose love of the art form knows no bounds.
Scoot McNairy is a tragic but revered figure as an ailing Woody Guthrie.
Boyd Holbrook imbues Johnny Cash with muscularity.
Mangold has crafted something special, which captures the essence of a musical genius who refused to be tamed.
Rated M, A Complete Unknown scores an 8½ out of 10.
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