Movie Review: A Complete Unknown

Bringing the story of Bob Dylan, one of the scrawniest American singer-songwriters to be a sex symbol in music, to the screen was truly a treat for the eyes and ears I cannot rave about enough. Though “A Complete Unknown” premiered on Christmas Day, the cast has been on a worldwide press tour for the past month, the latest stop being in Rome this past Friday. There are so many aspects of the movie to consider: the star-studded cast led by Timothee Chalamet (my crush in younger years) and Elle Fanning, the fashion of the 60s seen in full glory and the classic songs brought to the fore whose lyrics still ring true to this day.

I saw the biopic with my family on Boxing Day and perhaps the best part of the experience was rediscovering Dylan’s catalog and the bonding moments it brought after the initial viewing. My sister and I rediscovered Bob Dylan’s old hits to compile a playlist for a road trip we had coming up. None of us (my parents were still too young to have grown up in Dylan’s heyday) had gone to a Newport Folk Festival yet his music was still recognizable enough that each of us could hum along to 4-5 of his classics. As we vibed to Blowin’ in the Wind, Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right and Like a Rolling Stone it was remarkable how relatable the lyrics were even to the culture in 2025. We still have anxiety, we still long for lost loves and we still yearn for freedom.

Enough about the music being relatable, you can listen to Dylan’s tracks on Spotify or at any of the listening parties that are popping up. Why should you go see this movie? Timothee Chalamet is the absolute perfect Bob Dylan. The waifish charm, the mannerisms, the accent and mumbled way of speaking makes you feel as though you are looking at Dylan himself. Chalamet channels these boyish and coming-of-age dialogues and story lines perfectly and authentically. Which girl to choose? The stable one or the wild one? How do I know who to trust in a new city and new career? What to do once I get to the top?

This film also perfectly captures the nostalgia of that time – a time with no smartphones! While some storylines have been condensed and even invented, the script is based on many hours of conversation between James Mangold, one of the two writers, and Dylan himself. Dylan himself provided feedback on the script and has a producer credit on the film. Scenes from the open mic nights with record execs and music enthusiasts popping in to discover the next big star really happened and this movie brought that to life.

There is something lovely about how analogue the rise of Dylan’s career is depicted. How new artists were discovered and built is so interesting and novel compared to our modern day YouTube stars and social media personalities who hide behind a screen. There is a rawness and authenticity to how the audience was able to connect with the artist. Sure, the labels decided who got the record deal and what was on the album, but the hustle was real. Dylan wasn’t recording with a ring light in his bedroom, he drove to New York and had to take a taxi to meet his idol Woody Guthrie. There was a real physical journey involved with his rise to the top.

I would have liked to see a bit more of the influence of the Vietnam War and how it divided folk musicians at the time. After all it wasn’t only an acoustic versus electric battle as depicted in the 1965 Newport Folk Festival that caused folk artists to clash. Dylan devotees would also point out the finer details, such as the “Judas!” moment shown at Newport actually taking place in England a year later. Also the fictitious meeting of Johnny Cash and Dylan that same festival year is incorrect. For the average layman however, the historical drama is absolutely entertaining and as with most biopics will spur the curious to dig deeper into the life of Dylan, his music and the surrounding characters.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend it and might see it again myself. Grab a music-loving friend and see this movie before it leaves theaters this weekend!