Cheyenne Suarez

Timothee Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown'

Article (news)

'A Complete Unknown' review: Chalamet displays range as young Dylan

Fred Hawson

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740732599778dylan.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Timothee Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan in &#x27;A Complete Unknown&#x27;"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Timothee Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan in &#x27;A Complete Unknown&#x27; </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In 1961, 19 year-old Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) from Hibbing, Minnesota arrived in Greenwich Village, New York City to meet his musical idol Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) who was then confined in Greystone Hospital. A fellow folk musician Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) was also visiting his close friend by the time Dylan arrived that night. After he heard Bob sing &quot;Song to Woody,&quot; Seeger took him in and introduced him around town.</p><p>As he slowly made his name in the big city, Bob met a rising female folk singer Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and her manager Albert Grossman (Dan Folger), who also became his manager. Bob met Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) at a church concert. They enjoyed interesting discussions ranging from movies to politics, until they moved in together as a couple. However, she was annoyed that Bob was hesitant to reveal anything about his past.</p><p>Confession: I did not know anything about Bob Dylan until he was one of the featured singers on &quot;We are the World&quot; in 1985. Even then, I was not a fan of his style of singing so I never really delved further into his past discography. I still do not know much about him and his career up to now. If it wasn&#x27;t for the multiple awards (picture, director, three actors) for which it was nominated for at the Oscars, I may not even go out of my way to watch this movie. </p><p>Now that I have seen for myself what the buzz was all about, I consider myself a fan of this film&#x27;s star -- its musical soundtrack. This was specially true when I read that Chalamet, Norton, Barbaro, and Boyd Holbrook (as Johnny Cash) all recorded their songs live (not pre-recorded). Since I&#x27;ve seen the film, I have already streamed the soundtrack album on Spotify at least two times already and enjoying the whole &#x27;60s folk vibe.</p><p>Coming from &quot;Dune 2&quot; and &quot;Wonka,&quot; Chalamet displayed more range as an actor here as Bob Dylan. Aside from nailing the dramatic moments, it was doubly amazing how he got Bob&#x27;s spoken voice, distinctive speak-sing style, even his frenetic guitar playing. His versions of classics &quot;The Times They Are a-Changing&quot; and &quot;Like a Rolling Stone&quot; (where the title phrase came from) were impeccable. He actually has a good chance of winning the Best Actor Oscar.</p><p>I first knew of Monica Barbaro from &quot;Top Gun Maverick&quot; (2022). Her nomination as Best Supporting Actress was said to be a surprise, but it was totally well-deserved. Her portrayal of Joan Baez was earthy and sultry, no wonder Bob was entranced and Sylvie was driven mad with jealousy. Her cover of &quot;House of the Rising Sun&quot; had me under her spell. The harmonies they had in duets &quot;Blowin&#x27; in the Wind&quot; and &quot;It Ain&#x27;t Me Babe&quot; blended so well. </p><p>Edward Norton already had three Oscar nominations before this one -- for his film debut &quot;Primal Fear&quot; (1996), &quot;American History X&quot; (1998), and &quot;Birdman&quot; (2015). Norton embodied Seeger&#x27;s kindness, generosity, and his conflict between traditional and electric folk music. He surprised me with his high tenor when he sang &quot;Wimoweh&quot; (the chant in &quot;The Lion Sleeps Tonight&quot;) and well as harmonizing skills in his duet with Bob in &quot;When the Ship Comes In.&quot; </p><p>The film followed a traditional biopic formula so I am not sure James Mangold&#x27;s nominations for Direction and Adapted Screenplay (with Jay Cocks) has a chance to win. Instead of the nomination for Costume Design, I would have nominated it in Production Design, for its meticulous recreation of the 1960s Greenwich Village scene. It best chances to win an Oscar would be in the Sound category, but &quot;Dune 2&quot; and &quot;Wicked&quot; are too strong. </p><div><br/></div><div><em>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, “<a href="https://said-fred.blogspot.com/2025/02/review-of-complete-unknown-dylans.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fred Said</a>.”</em></div>

<p>Timothee Chalamet actually has a good chance of winning the Best Actor Oscar.</p>