JustWatchWhat is the Storyline of A Complete Unknown?
In 1961, a young Bob Dylan hitchhikes to New York to visit his idol, the singer Woody Guthrie. He impresses his hero with an original song and starts pursuing a career in the city’s folk music scene. From there, the film follows Dylan as he navigates the challenges of the music industry and becomes a celebrity. It culminates in his iconic performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Our Honest Review of A Complete Unknown
We had alarm bells ringing when we heard that director James Mangold was making a Bob Dylan biopic. His 2005 Johnny Cash film, Walk The Line, was terrific, but also felt like a near cut-and-paste copy of the previous year’s Ray. We went in expecting a stereotypical story of fame, addiction, and redemption, but were pleasantly surprised.
The film focuses on a select few years of Dylan’s career rather than his entire life, so it has a different vibe and feels far less contrived. The singer-songwriter’s adventures in the Greenwich Village folk scene are enjoyable, and the film isn’t afraid to portray him as an arrogant jerk who happens to be very talented.
One of our writers is a Dylan obsessive and had a hard time getting past some of the historical inaccuracies, but otherwise, there’s not much we can fault. This is a highly entertaining biopic and one of the best movies of 2024.
What Do the Critics Think of A Complete Unknown?
The originality and scares make the film 28 Weeks Later a must-see horror. This is what the critics say:
- “Five stars of pure entertainment underpinned by a 10-star performance by Timothee Chalamet…” – Stephen Romei, The Australian
- “So many things could have gone wrong with a Bob Dylan biopic that it’s a small miracle that James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown is not just watchable but actually slyly observant and surprisingly compelling.” – Cary Darling, Houston Chronicle
- “A Complete Unknown is utterly fascinating, capturing a moment in time when songs had weight, when they could move the culture — even if the singer who made them was as puzzling as a rolling stone.” – Mark Kennedy, Associated Press
- “Star of the moment Timothée Chalamet inhabits the loose-limbed, live-wire physicality of the young Bob Dylan and makes an impressively good fist of capturing the frayed hessian of his distinctive voice.” – Wendy Ide, The Observer
What Awards and Nominations Did A Complete Unknown Receive?
A Complete Unknown received generally favourable reviews from critics, with Timothée Chalamet’s lead role attracting near-universal praise. The American Film Institute called it one of the best ten films of 2024.
The film was also nominated for the following awards:
- Academy Award for Best Picture
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Lead Role – Timothée Chalamet (won)
- British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for Best Picture
- Critics Choice Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet), and Best Supporting Actor (Ed Norton)
Director and Cast of A Complete Unknown
A veteran film director with multiple credits to his name, including Heavy (1995), Copland (1997), Girl, Interrupted (1999) and Kate & Leopold (2001). He received widespread acclaim for his work on Logan (2017) and is known for his ability to adapt to different film genres.
Timothée Chalamet is a versatile French-American actor. He is best known for his breakout role in Call Me By Your Name (2017), and his lead roles in The King (2019), Dune (2021), and Wonka (2023). A Complete Unknown is his second appearance with co-star Elle Fanning, the two previously appearing together in A Rainy Day In New York (2019).
An experienced actor known for his intense performances, Norton rose to fame for his role in Primal Fear (1996), where he played an altar boy accused of murdering a priest. He later received critical acclaim when he appeared in American History X (1998) and Fight Club (1999).
He also has a reputation for being difficult to work with. He clashed with director Brett Ratner on the set of Red Dragon (2002) and refused to promote The Italian Job (2003). His role in Birdman (2014) as an overly serious and volatile actor has been interpreted as a self-referential nod to this.
A former child actor, Elle Fanning began her career playing younger versions of her sister Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam (2001) and the science fiction TV series Taken (2002). She would go on to receive wider recognition as Princess Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent (2014), and The Neon Demon (2016). She is a distant cousin of Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William, heir to the throne of England.
Monica Barbaro first gained attention when she appeared in a viral comedy short called It’s Not About The Nail. She enjoyed a long career in television before moving into the film industry, and received a major supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). She learned to play guitar for A Complete Unknown and performs all her songs in the film.
Fun Facts About A Complete Unknown
- Boyd Holbrook portrays Johnny Cash in a supporting role. Director James Mangold also made Walk The Line, a similar music biopic which explored Cash’s life, with Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role.
- The original title was ‘Going Electric.’
- Timothée Chalamet rode a Lime rental bike to the London premiere to beat traffic, but received a fine after parking it on the red carpet.
- The scenes depicting Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash writing letters to one another are not fictional; the two maintained a long-time correspondence, and Dylan still has all of Cash’s letters.
- The role of Pete Seeger was initially given to Benedict Cumberbatch, but he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Ed Norton.
- The first trailer was released on July 24th, 2024, exactly 59 years to the date of Bob Dylan’s famous performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Themes of A Complete Unknown
The main theme of A Complete Unknown is Dylan’s struggle for artistic freedom in the American folk scene. He frequently comes into conflict with music industry executives about his desire to modernise traditional folk music, especially with his use of electric guitars and lyrics influenced by the turbulent socio-political landscape of the 60s.
The film also explores his personal relationships with his girlfriend, Sylvie Russo, and the singer Joan Baez. His increasing fame and aloof nature affect both women and leave a lasting impact on his music.
How Does A Complete Unknown Compare to James Mangold’s Other Work?
The best comparison point for A Complete Unknown is Walk The Line, James Mangold’s 2005 biopic of Johnny Cash. Each of these movies explores the career of a famous musician, although Walk The Line is a somewhat darker movie. The two films share themes of artists struggling for authentic expression and are natural companion pieces. However, Chalamet’s Dylan is less intense than Joaquin Phoenix’s brooding, alcohol addicted Cash.
Iconic Scenes from A Complete Unknown
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- James Mangold has described filming the scene where Bob Dylan meets Woody Guthrie in the hospital as the moment he knew the movie would work. Speaking with Elle Fanning for Interview Magazine, he described Chalamet’s ‘laser focus’ on the portrayal, and how his live performance of ‘A Song For Woody’ reduced him to tears. Chalamet’s playing convinced him to abandon all the tracks they’d recorded in advance and instead use live performances for the film.
- Timothée Chalamet spent the entire production period deeply immersed in the character. He didn’t use his mobile phone and remained aloof from both cast and crew. He was even listed as ‘Bob Dylan’ on the call sheet.
- Pete Seeger was known for playing a 12-string acoustic guitar with a distinctive triangular hole. For all the scenes where he performs music, Ed Norton is playing the original guitar, not a replica.
- The film was in early development in 2020 but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A significant number of scenes take place in crowded music venues and it wasn’t feasible to make it due to the restrictions at the time. James Mangold revitalised the project once he finished filming Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny.
What’s the Soundtrack Like for 28 Weeks Later?
As you might expect from a music biopic, the soundtrack is comprised of songs written by Bob Dylan during the early 60s, although they are performed in-character by Chalamet, rather than Dylan himself.
In order to capture the spirit of the original recordings, the sound team used period-appropriate microphones and equipment wherever possible, as well as recording all 23 tracks live.
The end result is an intriguing snapshot of Dylan’s artistic development. In a similar fashion to the film, it starts with a focus on his acoustic material before segueing into electronic guitar music in the second half.
Chalamet’s performance is impressive, and his duet with Monica Barbao on ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ is excellent, but it does end up feeling more like a curiosity that you’ll play three or four times, then put away forever. Bob Dylan’s fanbase won’t find much fault in the soundtrack, but it’s unlikely to replace the original versions in their hearts.
The soundtrack of A Complete Unknown is very good, and does come across like an authentic 60s folk album, but it’s arguably going to be best appreciated by fans of the film rather than Dylan himself.
Best Quotes from 28 Weeks Later
- “Everyone asks where these songs come from, Sylvie. But then you watch their faces, and they’re not asking where the songs come from. They’re asking why the songs didn’t come to them.” – Bob Dylan, speaking with Sylvie after a dispute.
- “You know, you’re kind of an asshole, Bob.” – Joan Baez, in conversation with Bob Dylan.
- “There was singing cowboys that come through teach me all sorts of funny chords. They’d pass through doin’ shows in Kansas or Dakotas. These chords I learned from a cowboy named Wigglefoot.” – Bob Dylan, explaining how he learnt to play guitar.
- “There was a time when the old songs were new, right? Someone at some point had to give the songs a chance. I mean, there’s a civil war going on down south. The biggest military buildup in history. Nuclear bombs hanging over us. It’s not all about the Dust Bowl and Johnny Appleseed anymore.” – Sylvie Russo, in conversation with Bob Dylan.
- “Dear Johnny, Thanks for that letter. I am now famous — famous by the rules of public famiosity. It snuck up on me and pulverised me. To quote Mr. Freud, I get quite paranoid.” – Excerpt from a letter Bob Dylan wrote to Johnny Cash (voiceover).
- “Want a Bugle?” – Johnny Cash, in conversation with Bob Dylan.
- “It was the Newport Folk Festival then, Bob, and it still is the Newport Folk Festival! Not the teen dream, Brill Building, Top Forty British Invasion Festival — a folk festival. Do you even remember folk music, Bob?” – Alan Lomax, confronting Bob Dylan in the aftermath of the Newport Folk Festival.
What People Are Asking About 28 Weeks Later
Yes, he certainly did. Chalamet performs all the songs portrayed in the film, singing and playing the guitar at the same time. He recorded 40 Bob Dylan songs in total, of which 17 made it onto the official soundtrack.
Sylvie Russo is a fictional character based on the artist and political activist Suze Rotolo. Dylan specifically asked the filmmakers not to use her real name, but as she played a major role in his life, the character of Sylvie was invented to fill the part. Elle Fanning plays Sylvie Russo in the film.
For the most part, the film is an accurate depiction of Dylan’s early career, but several events have been fictionalised or compressed for the sake of dramatic licence. For example, there is an early scene that shows Dylan meeting Woody Guthrie for the first time in a hospital. In reality, they met at a house in New Jersey, although Dylan did visit Guthrie in hospital when he was taken ill.
Additionally, the film shows Johnny Cash in attendance at the Newport Folk Festival, when in fact, he wasn’t present. There is a scene where Pete Seeger tries to sever Dylan’s microphone cable with an axe, but this is based on an urban legend rather than a real event. Plus, the famous moment when an audience member shouted “Judas” at Dylan occurred in Manchester, England, not New York.
The film is precisely 141 minutes in length, including the end credits.
A Complete Unknown can be streamed on Disney Plus in Australia, or purchased on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
The original A Complete Unknown release date was December 25th, 2024 in the United States. It was released in Australia a month later, on January 23rd 2025.
Cast & Crew
Director(s)
James Mangold
Top Cast
Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Joe Tippett
