A Complete Unknown: Capturing the Enigma of Bob Dylan

Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan is iconic, sensitively capturing his physical presence. From the scrawny, hunched frame to the disconcerting gaze and snickering laugh, he embodies the shapeshifting presence - and absence - of Dylan. In the performance of Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright, he recreates Dylan’s eccentric phrasing, singing as though grappling with the melody itself.

The role demanded five years of preparation, during which Chalamet immersed himself in the early 1960s New York music scene and even visited Dylan’s childhood home. Every song in the film is performed live, with Chalamet singing and playing 40 of Dylan’s songs. This approach imbues the musical sequences with rawness and an electric immediacy, vividly bringing the performances to life.

In addition to physical and musical precision, the film explores Dylan’s insolent wit and self-mythologising tendencies. In a moment of humorous defiance, when asked if he is God, Dylan quips, “How many more times? Yes.” This playful acknowledgement of his own creative agency and the weight of status, showcasing Dylan as a witty provocateur in constant reinvention.

The supporting cast focuses on a select number of close figures in Dylan’s life during this period, offering intimate glimpses into the relationships that shaped his early career. Elle Fanning plays Sylvie Russo, a fictionalised version of Suze Rotolo, Dylan’s first New York girlfriend. Russo’s pivotal scene with Dylan occurs when she prepares to leave for Europe, saying, “I’m going to miss you”, before adding, “You came here with nothing but a guitar. You never talk about your family, your past [...] I realise I don’t know you”. The exchange draws heavily on Dylan’s emotional distance and self-invented mythology, a theme central to the film. However, the film omits Rotolo’s real-life influence, particularly her introduction of Dylan to Brecht, French poetry, and civil rights activism. While the film omits the full depth of Rotolo’s influence on Dylan, this choice aligns with its commitment to portraying Dylan’s artistic output over his background or influences.

Monica Barbaro’s portrayal of Joan Baez is another key element. In a scene at Gerde’s Folk City, Dylan critiques Baez’s soprano voice as being “like an oil painting at the dentist’s office.” While this moment showcases Dylan’s brashness, it downplays Baez’s significance, given her established career and her pivotal role in championing Dylan’s music. Barbaro balances Baez’s admiration for Dylan’s genius with the tensions that arise from his emotional unavailability. Notably, Baez’s duet with Dylan on It Ain’t Me Babe exudes intimacy and secrecy, with exchanged smirks hinting at the complexities of their connection.

Edward Norton delivers an emotive performance as Pete Seeger, Dylan’s mentor and folk purist. The film opens with a tender scene at Woody Guthrie’s hospital bedside, where Seeger and Dylan meet. In a climactic Newport Folk Festival scene, Seeger’s frustration boils over as he seeks an axe to cut the amplifier cables during Dylan’s electric performance. Norton’s portrayal captures the heartbreak of a mentor witnessing his protégé’s rebellion against tradition, embodying the generational rift within the folk movement.

Mangold carefully integrates the political and cultural discourse of the 1960s into Dylan’s story. The performance of The Times They Are A-Changin’ stands out as a defining moment. Chalamet’s Dylan debuts the song to a captivated audience, depicting its pivotal position as an anthem for the civil rights and counterculture movements. The crowd’s spontaneous participation in the chorus amplifies the song’s galvanising power.

Sylvie’s introduction of Dylan to the civil rights movement contextualises his involvement, though he is not positioned as a political activist. Dylan’s ambivalence toward political labels is reflected in a scene where he dodges questions about his intentions, instead channeling his beliefs through his music.

The climactic Newport Folk Festival scene dramatises Dylan’s break with the folk tradition with the release of Like a Rolling Stone. The film relocates the infamous “Judas!” heckle from Manchester to Newport, emphasising the betrayal felt by folk purists. Norton’s Seeger becomes the embodiment of this discontent, with his symbolic search for an axe. The moment highlights Dylan’s restless sense of creativity and innovation.

While A Complete Unknown captures Dylan’s spirit, it takes creative liberties with historical events. For example, Dylan’s first performance of Girl From The North Country predates his trip to England, where he was inspired by Scarborough Fair. Similarly, the film condenses the pivotal year of 1964, omitting Dylan’s meeting with the Beatles and the release of Mr. Tambourine Man. These omissions serve the film’s thematic focus on Dylan’s artistic evolution rather than his biography.

The depiction of Greenwich Village, integral to Dylan’s early career, is notably understated. Despite this, the film’s attention to period details - like Dylan’s green polka-dot blouse - grounds its portrayal in authenticity.

Visually and emotionally, A Complete Unknown excels in immersing viewers in Dylan’s world. The decision to perform all songs live lends the musical sequences a sense of immediacy, making them feel triumphant and atmospheric. Chalamet’s first strum of the guitar in Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright is a moment of pure magic, while the euphoric finale, set to Like a Rolling Stone, captures Dylan’s palpable defiance.

Fanning and Barbaro deliver poignant performances, holding their own alongside Chalamet. Their portrayals of Sylvie and Baez reflect the challenges of loving an elusive man. Norton’s Seeger provides a poignant counterbalance, embodying the folk tradition Dylan ultimately outgrew.

A Complete Unknown succeeds by embracing Dylan’s elusive nature rather than attempting to demystify him. Mangold’s focus on a select period allows the film to delve deeply into the relationships, music, and moments that shaped Dylan’s rise. Chalamet’s transformative performance and the film’s raw, live music create an experience that feels immediate and alive.

Ultimately, A Complete Unknown is a celebration of Dylan’s genius and his enduring influence, leaving audiences with a complex portrait of one of music’s greatest - and most elusive - icons.