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Nutshell Review: A Complete Unknown

Steve Titcomb

PG Score: 8.25/10


A Complete Unknown is a must-see!

A Complete Unknown was released in theaters on 12/25/24


Timothee Chalamet (Dune) is arguably the best actor of his generation. On top of that, the young man has some pipes. Following in the footsteps of Val Kilmer (The Doors) and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line), Chalamet recreated some of Bob Dylan’s greatest hits to tell this story and, quite honestly, sang the songs even better. Now I love Bob Dylan and his voice, so that is saying something. A Complete Unknown is the first music biopic since Walk the Line that deserves all the praise and there could be some Oscar nominations coming along with it. The film isn’t without its flaws, but the good far outweighs the bad (not that I would call it bad).


Minor Issues


My biggest gripe is the lack of time and depth that went into Bob Dylan's origins but I guess that can be expected with A Complete Unknown being based on the book, Dylan Goes Electric. We don’t see him as a youth in Minnesota or what truly drives him to become a musician. What we do get though, is amazing. From arriving in New York and working his way up to be a voice that people wanted to hear, to the agitation and annoyance of being pigeonholed as only an acoustic folk singer. 


Chalamet



Chalamet does an incredible job of showing the effects and toll that fame and world-renown had on Bob Dylan. Simple gestures and mannerisms that weren’t there early on become more noticeable later in the story as his frustration grows. While having a more pleasant voice, he catches the cadence and presence of Dylan.


Supporting Cast


The supporting cast is stellar. Edward Norton (Fight Club) is always fantastic and nails the elder spokesman/mentor roll to a tee. Bob Dylan's love life gets a large amount of plot time and Elle Fanning (Super 8) and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) encapsulate two ends of the spectrum. Barbaro as Joan Baez is visually captivating on screen and you can feel the heat in the short-lived romance between her and Dylan. Fanning as Sylvie Russo is the heart of the film. She carries a lot of the emotional weight and does it well. Both women loved Dylan for different reasons, both had a great respect for his writing, and both absolutely helped him in the process.


A Complete Unknown is a Must-See


A Complete Unknown is filled with great music and fantastic acting. The story doesn't dive as deep into Bob Dylan's life as I would have liked, but the story covered the four most influential years of his life during the country's most controversial decade. I wanted more, but I loved what we got. A Complete Unknown is something you should become familiar with; this is a must-see.


PG Score: 8.25/10



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