What happens when you get one of the most in-demand (some may argue currently oversaturated) actors to play an enigmatic legendary musician? Director James Mangold makes this incredible challenge look easy in his latest biopic, A Complete Unknown. Timothée Chalamet is electric as the rebellious nobody turned American folk hero Bob Dylan. Chalamet defies naysayers’ assumptions as he channels Dylan’s defiance and creative genius through spellbinding performances that vividly capture the revolutionary musical awakening of the 60s. While the film still has its blemishes, it’s an easy Best Actor nomination for Chalamet come Oscar season.

From a Rolling Stone to Folk Icon

A Complete Unknown charts the meteoric rise of Bob Dylan’s spectacular and complicated career. Based on the novel Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties by author Elijah Wald, the film captures a short but substantial period of Dylan’s early life. Bob Dylan (Chalamet) arrives in New York City with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a dream. The year is 1961 and the 19-year-old from Minnesota is eager to make a name for himself. His confidence and singular talent catch the attention of Pete Seegar (Edward Norton) who swiftly takes Dylan under his wing.

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Seegar is eager to introduce Dylan to the wider NYC music industry. He knows full well that what Dylan harnesses is something special. Acting as his manager, Seegar sets up various showcases around Greenwich Village. Instantly, audiences are captivated by Dylan’s poetic and dagger-like lyrics and unique sound. He catches the eye of another folk darling, Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), and they go on to have a sporadic but highly passionate, rocky relationship. His romantic life is one of disarray as he also juggles his on-again, off-again relationship with Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning).

Dylan Goes Electric!

Bob Dylan’s revolutionary talent came with its fair share of controversy. After years of playing traditional folk-inspired songs, Dylan feels compelled to explore the new sound of the 60s: electric. Everything culminates on the day of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. At this point, he is bored of playing his hit songs and is determined to shake things up, much to the concert promoters’ and audiences’ dismay. Never one to stray from his authenticity, Dylan plugs in and ends up playing a groundbreaking performance that changes the trajectory of his career–and folk music–forever.

Timothée Chalamet Deserves a Standing Ovation

The film’s biggest source of awe is undoubtedly the pitch-perfect performance by Timothée Chalamet. Chalamet not only physically embodies the scrawny songwriter, but he also belts the songs and plays the guitar and harmonica with incredibly detailed precision. He performs for nearly half of the movie, at times it seems as if there are more songs than dialogue. Every song, from “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” to “Like A Rolling Stone” to “Girl From The North Country”, is spellbinding. Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez is equally impressive. Her rendition of “House Of The Rising Sun” and “It Ain’t Me, Babe” are emotionally compelling and just plain fun to listen to.

Despite Powerful Performances, Mystery Remains

A Complete Unknown is not a perfect film. The biggest source of frustration comes from the script not going into enough depth about Dylan’s mysterious life pre-NYC. Little nuggets intended to pique our interest are never fully addressed. For example, we see an envelope intended for Bob Dylan but it’s addressed to a moniker we’ve never heard before. Perhaps a future documentary can explore more details about his early life. However, in A Complete Unknown, these moments should have either been addressed or cut altogether. Aside from the riveting performances, which is why this film is worth seeing in theaters, Mangold’s biopic leaves much to be desired about the mysterious early life of this icon.

Takeaway

Fans of Bob Dylan should feel optimistic about A Complete Unknown. Timothée Chalamet exceeds expectations and delivers one of the most unforgettable performances of the year. Dylan’s music has been attributed to bridging the gap between genres and generations. Similarly, A Complete Unknown is a film for everyone: every age and musical preference, especially those with a rebellious spirit.