New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19 year old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.
He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide.
‘A Complete Unknown’ is the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history. This Bob Dylan biopic is an incredible film showing how the one and only Bob Dylan became the singer that several fans cherish still today.
Throughout the course of the film, we see how he collaborated with several people (most notably Joan Baez) and see him create a few of his iconic songs. There are some moments between him and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) that can be slightly endearing and shows how Seeger helped Dylan out while getting his career started.
‘A Complete Unknown’ also focuses on the relationship Bob Dylan had with Joan Baez. A lot of those moments can be powerful and we also got to see how complicated their bond was. Their duet scenes that are scattered throughout are simply breathtaking and the film brilliantly captures the magic these two had on stage. - even when they aren’t getting along.
The film’s climactic portrayal of the Newport Folk Festival is probably one of the best segments of this film. This moment in music history is something that every folk musician of the era would never forget. This entire sequence sees Dylan transform from being an acoustic poet to an electric trailblazer. It not only captures the thunderous reception (and intense controversy) that followed, but shows how it represented a shift in the world of music.
And, of course, ‘A Complete Unknown’ features amazing music and kudos for Timothee Chalamet, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton for singing live vocals on-set. Those three also delivered great performances as well.
So, if you enjoy the songs by Bob Dylan and/or music biopics in general, then do not miss this film! And, even if you’re not too familiar with Bob Dylan, this film can serve as an invitation to understand how he, and those who stood behind him, rewrote the rules of what art could be.
Cast: Timothee Chalamet (Bob Dylan); Edward Norton (Pete Seeger); Monica Barabaro (Joan Baez); Elle Fanning (Sylvia Russo); Dan Fogler (Albert Grossman); P.J. Byrne (Harold Leventhal); Boyd Holbrook (Johnny Cash); Scoot McNairy (Woody Guthrie)
Writer/director: Jay Cocks (writer) (Silence; De-Lovely; Gangs of New York); James Mangold (co-writer;director) (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Ford v Ferrari; Logan)
Trivia: It was announced in January 2020 that Mangold would be writing and directing a Bob Dylan biopic, which was temporarily on hold due to the pandemic at the time. For his role as iconic folk singer Pete Seeger, Norton had the privilege of playing Seeger’s actual Martin 12-strong acoustic guitar with its distinctive triangular soundhole.
The film is named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. It has received 3 Golden Globe nods: Best Motion Picture-Drama, Best Actor - Drama (Chalamet) and Best Supporting Actor (Norton)
‘A Complete Unknown’ is rated R for language and has a running time of 141 minutes.
Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro and Boyd Holbrook did all their own singing in the movie.
For his role as folk singer Pete Seeger, Edward Norton played Seeger's actual Martin 12-string acoustic guitar with its distinctive triangular soundhole.
The character of Sylvie Russo in the movie is based on Suze Rotolo, Bob Dylan's girlfriend at the time. The New York Times reported that Dylan requested that the director, James Mangold, not use Ms. Rotolo's real name in the film. Mangold stated that "what Bob expressed to me was just that this was not a public person."
The original title for this film was "Going Electric".
The soundtrack album for "A Complete Unknown" was released on December 20, 2024, through Columbia Records. It is scheduled for release on physical formats in 2025; a vinyl edition featuring 16 tracks is scheduled for release on January 24, while the CD with 23 tracks is scheduled for February 28. Two songs from the soundtrack were released on December 4, 2024: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Chalamet and "Girl from the North Country" by Chalamet and Barbaro. "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" has been confirmed as a track on the album, which also includes performances from Norton and Holbrook. The album's track listing also includes "Highway 61 Revisited," "Mr. Tambourine Man," "I Was Young When I Left Home," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "The Times They Are a-Changin'." The film additionally features a performance of "Song to Woody".
It was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review, the latter of which also awarded Fanning Best Supporting Actress. It received three nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor (Chalamet), and Best Supporting Actor (Norton).
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