A Complete Unknown (2024) is a biographical musical drama that explores the early career of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet). The film follows Dylan’s journey from his arrival in New York City in 1961 to his groundbreaking and controversial electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, marking his transformation from folk purist to rock and electric innovator.
The film opens with a recording by Woody Guthrie, one of Dylan’s musical heroes, as a 19-year-old Dylan arrives in New York City to introduce himself to Guthrie, who is hospitalized in New Jersey. During his visit, Dylan meets Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), who encourages him to perform for Guthrie. Recognizing Dylan’s raw talent and potential, Seeger becomes an influential mentor, helping shape him into the next major voice in folk music. Through ambition, determination, and the guidance of key figures, Dylan quickly rises to fame, capturing the spirit of the era with his songwriting.
Dylan’s music is played alongside pivotal historical moments throughout the film, reinforcing his cultural significance. His performance at the Washington Mall before Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech and a club rendition of “Masters of War” set against news footage of the Cuban Missile Crisis highlight how his music was influenced by the social and political landscape of the time. Rather than simply serving as a soundtrack, Dylan’s songs are integrated into the storytelling of the film, illustrating his cultural impact. The use of historical news clips also shows that even an uncompromising artist like Dylan was shaped by the world around him.
Despite his brilliance, Dylan is portrayed as an elusive and often difficult figure to be around, struggling to maintain personal relationships. His romance with Sylvie, who serves as his better half for most of the film, eventually unravels, as does his professional relationship with Joan Baez—both women finding his erratic and self-absorbed nature too much to deal with. The film ends with his controversial 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance, where he shocks the audience by abandoning acoustic folk for a new electrified rock set. The moment becomes a defining chapter in his career, symbolizing his artistic reinvention and the backlash that came with it.
A Complete Unknown (2024) presents Dylan’s story with a neutral perspective, acknowledging his musical genius while remaining skeptical of his personality, an approach fitting for such an enigmatic and constantly evolving artist. Most biopics can never fully capture their subject, but A Complete Unknown (2024) offers a glimpse into Dylan’s story, providing insight into both the artist and the cultural revolution he helped shape.
A Complete Unknown (2024) Awards:
Academy Awards (97th Oscars) – 8 Nominations, 0 Wins
- Nominated: Best Picture
- Nominated: Best Director – James Mangold
- Nominated: Best Actor – Timothée Chalamet
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor – Edward Norton
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress – Monica Barbaro
- Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay – James Mangold and Jay Cooks
- Nominated: Best Sound – Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco
- Nominated: Best Costume Design – Arianne Phillips
Golden Globes (82nd Golden Globes) – 3 Nominations, 0 Wins
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama – Timothée Chalamet
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Edward Norton
British Academy Film Awards (78th BAFTAs) – 6 Nominations, 0 Wins
- Nominated: Best Film
- Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role – Timothée Chalamet
- Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Edward Norton
- Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay – James Mangold and Jay Cocks
- Nominated: Best Casting – Yesi Ramirez
- Nominated: Best Costume Design – Arianne Phillips
