Movies like Rocket Man (2019), Elvis (2022), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Walk the Line (2005) and more expand on the real world lives of beloved “tortured artists.” From the charismatic Elton John to the passionate Freddie Mercury, it’s the same story time and time again: small town musicians coming from relatively humble beginnings and their journeys to stardom against struggles with heartbreak, fame, and label disputes. So, is James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown any different? Kind of.

Released on Dec. 25, the film sets itself apart from other biopics by not solely aiming to uncover a hidden truth about the protagonist. There is a predominant focus on music over narrative. For reference, Joaquin Phoenix covers roughly eight songs as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, while A Complete Unknown includes an impressive 40 works of Bob Dylan, all sung by a mumbling Timothée Chalamet. 

Walk The Line was also a joint directed by Mangold, which is noteworthy because of the way the two movies differ to fit the central character: A complete Unknown showcasing Dylan as a mysterious creative by how musical it is; while Walk the Line sees Cash’s artistry and struggles as one. 

According to an NPR interview on All Things Considered hosted by journalist Aisla Chang, Chalamet reportedly spent five years preparing for the acclaimed role by studying Dylan’s mannerisms as well as learning the harmonica and guitar. This dedication and obvious reverence Chalamet holds for Dylan makes his portrayal all the more compelling. Chalamet does a solid job imitating Dylan’s aloof style and breathy voice. There were hardly any scenes where music wasn’t playing or wasn’t about to be played. 

Therein lies the rub: how do these kinds of biopics find balance between performance and history? While the movie does express the genre shift of Dylan’s early career and backlash he went through after straying from classic folk— most of it is pure singing. 

To judge whether you’d enjoy A Complete Unknown or not, it’s important to reflect on your expectations. Are you anticipating a revealing exposé on Dylan? Or to hum along with “Like a Rolling Stone?” Chances are, if you are hoping for the former, this movie will likely disappoint. I am a fan of Dylan’s and personally didn’t mind the gimmicky musicality, especially with all of the references to and additions of formative names that influenced the 1960’s, but I could understand a desire for more.

American actor Edward Norton plays an overwhelmed Pete Seeger as he tries to keep together the folk genre that he helped pioneer alongside a hospitalized Woody Guthrie. Norton cold opens by reciting “This Land is Your Land”—and with the quiet but present political atmosphere of the movie, taking place during war-time and former US president John F. Kennedy’s assasination—it’s quite moving. 

So, does the film make a statement on transforming times? Yes. Does it set up themes without diving into them? Yes. 

I believe that when making biopics about celebrities who are still alive, it’s almost always a bit stilted. How do you choose which area of their life to pull from? In Elvis, it seems only natural for the film to display chronologically and close with one of Elvis Presley’s final performances. 

This is the antithesis of Dylan, who, as of 2024, is still touring, still creating and it seems to be never ending. How could you give a conclusion to a story that is continually being written? Answer: you deliver a sub-par plot with spectacular character work.

All in all, I was satisfied with A Complete Unknown yet impressed by the direction it took. I was definitely imagining a more in-depth look into Dylan and especially his tumultuous love triangle with his then-girlfriend Suze Rotolo and folk star Joan Baez.

 Hollywood thrives on nostalgia, and it seems like with every year there’s more and more biopics to accompany it. This one however, feels so special. Chalamet was very involved with the construction of this movie, as he is one of its handful of producers. He depicts Dylan with the utmost respect and honor: highlighting him as a poet above all else, showing that Dylan’s true legacy is in his craft, rather than the details of his life. I think that this is a very refreshing take on the genre which is so polluted by exploitation and misguided representations. I strongly recommend seeing A Complete Unknown while it’s still out in theaters.