Premiering at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on December 10, 2024, A Complete Unknown, a biopic centered around Bob Dylan’d rise to fame in the early 60’s has taken the film world by storm. The film chronicles Dylan’s first arrival to New York and his early carrier, depicting the controversy surrounding his switch from folk music and often political songs to rock ‘n’ roll and an electric guitar. Shedding light on his complicated relationships with activist Suze Rotolo (renamed sylvie russo in film) and folk artist Joan baez, a Complete Unknown manages to tell part of Dylan’s captivating life story while maintaining the mystery that has surrounded him for his entire career. The biopic is on track to only rise in popularity, already grossing $74 million dollars in just a month.
Adding to its increasing popularity are the many awards its been Nominated for, including most recently multiple oscars, golden globes and various other awards. The films muse, Bob Dylan is played by accredited actor, Timothée Chalemet, who is in the running for winner Best Actor for the movie in the upcoming month. Originally only supposed to have four months to play Bob Dylan, Chalemet actually had 5 years due to pandemic and the hollywood strikes. This extended period of time allowed him to become a self proclaimed “devoted disciple in the church of bob” and granted him the opportunity to artfully portray the singer/songwriter. Chalemet worked with a vocal coach, a guitar teacher, a dialect coach, a movement coach, even a harmonica guy, so that when the songs where filmed on set everything was live with nothing pre recorded. Chalemet took this embodiment to an even higher level, wearing a prosthetic nose, having botox done in his jawline as well as gaining weight to better mimic Bob Dylan. Physically transforming into artist, not only made him better able to impersonate the character, but the hour and a half he had every morning for hair and makeup allowed him to “get grounded” and explore the material wether that was “ literary or film, or old tv shows of Bob.” Chalemet shared he wrote Dylans lyrics on paper and taped it to his walls, as well as often showing up to his singing lesson talking in Dylan’s voice.
A Complete Unknown was written by James Mangold, who wrote a similar oscar winning biopic, “Walk the Line,” in 2005 called which centered around Bob Dylan’s pen pal, and friend, Johnny Cash. Having the past experience was likely one of the reasons Mangold was able to successfully represent the artist as it as often been said that Dylan is too mysterious for a linear narrative such as that in A Complete Unknown. Although it is true that the singer took his privacy very seriously, creating a mystifying aura around him, A Complete Unknowns success indicates Mangold was able to pull it off.
Having the opportunity to watch this movie myself in theaters, I am fully able to say it exceeded my expectations. I grew up listen to Bob Dylan, and although I didn’t recognize every song, or eve begging to consider myself an expert on his life and art, I was blown away by just how well Timothée Chalemet was able to embody the artists voice and music. It gave the film a more personal touch, and exhibited how much Timothée Chalamet worked to represent the complicated singer, putting him as strong competition with Adrian Brody for the Oscar this year.
