A Complete Unknown (James Mangold, 2024, USA)

A Complete Unknown is the latest effort from director James Mangold, the workmanlike Hollywood director whose career has spanned large franchises (Wolverine, Indiana Jones) and more awards-driven fare (Walk the Line). This film falls into the latter category, and unsurprisingly it received a nomination for Best Picture. The film was also a commercial success, something that seems rarer and rarer when it comes to awards-driven films these days. It grossed over $140 million worldwide, showing the enduring legacy of Dylan's music.

The movie begins in 1961, during the early days of Bob Dylan's career. Mangold's focus is on Dylan's genesis as an artist, exploring his transition from imitation to originality. One early moment highlights this transition, when someone tells him: "Your record was all other people's music." The film also traces Dylan's political origins, with the Cuban Missile Crisis serving as something of an awakening for the young artist. As the 60s progress, we see the perils of celebrity weighing further on Dylan - with increased scrutiny from fans and the label. This culminates in the film's final and best scene at the Newport Folk Festival, wherein Dylan's transition to electric guitars elicits a riot.

Timothée Chalamet portrays Dylan, capturing his voice and mannerisms while skillfully avoiding turning the role into a caricature. His performances of Dylan's music are not revolutionary, but do justice to the originals without butchering them.  There is no shortage of films about Bob Dylan - both documentary and narrative - so this one faces the challenge of offering something new. The question to ask of any biopic: Would it still work for someone who had no knowledge of Dylan? In this case, the answer is likely yes. Director James Mangold does a serviceable job of keeping narrative momentum, tracing the arc of Dylan from a “complete unknown” to a major celebrity.

7/10