Over the years, biopics about musicians have been pretty hit or miss. The latest comes from Academy Award-nominated director James Mangold, who examines Bob Dylan's early life in A Complete Unknown. The film boasts a star-studded cast, featuring Timothee Chalamet as the music icon. The big question is, is it worth watching on the big screen? We saw the movie and will let you know.
Over the last few years, we've had great musician biopics with Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, Dexter Fletcher's Rocketman, and this year's Reinaldo Marcus Green's Bob Marley: One Love. However, we've had some rough-around-the-edges ones in Back to Black and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. It makes sense that audiences would be hesitant to check out A Complete Unknown.
A Complete Unknown follows a 19-year-old from Minnesota who heads to New York in 1961 with nothing but a guitar and a dream. Bob Dylan is heading to a hospital to hunt down Woody Guthrie when he runs into Peter Seeger and plays them some music. Starring alongside Chalamet are Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro, and Elle Fanning.
Is A Complete Unknown worth checking out?
Short answer: yes. However, let me explain why you should be watching this in theaters on Christmas day.
I am familiar with Bob Dylan, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan of his. James Mangold understood that there would be people who come to see A Complete Unknown solely because they are fans of Timothee Chalamet. Of course, he knew that Dylan's fans would show up, too. As a result, Mangold made a film that would educate and excite those on either side of the fence.
Mangold whimsically intertwined Dylan's songs and tied them to the story he was telling. Each song served a purpose and had a rhyme and reason for why he used it throughout the film. He did this to highlight the legend's music catalog and honor everything he did.
Timothee Chalamet's masterful performance is the icing on the cake where he embodies Bob Dylan. Chalamet has solidified himself as one of the best actors of our current generation. He gives two of the best performances of the year as Dylan and Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Two. It's hard to describe the performance without giving anything away, but it almost felt like Chalamet just vibed through the film as Dylan.
Ultimately, A Complete Unknown should be seen on the big screen this Christmas. This may be the perfect opportunity to take your Mom, Dad, or anyone in your life who is a Bob Dylan fan and enjoy James Mangold's fantastic movie.