Welcome back to the blog readers. I don't really talk a whole lot about my music tastes too much on this blog because I feel it is not relevant to. But I will let you guys know I am not the biggest fan of Bob Dylan and his music. I never was really able to find myself connecting with his music to be completely honest with you. But if you know me, you know the one reason why I wanted to see this film. So with that being said, would I be rewarded for my anticipation? Stick around to find out.
A Complete Unknown was directed by James Mangold from a script by him and Jay Cocks, based on the novel Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, and Scoot McNairy. The film chronicles Bob Dylan's life from 1961-1965, covering his origins and rise to fame, leading up to his controversial use of electric instruments during his performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
For those of you who did not clue in to why I was looking forward to this film, I have only two words for you: Timothée Chalamet. You may be aware of my faux (but probably not) crush on the guy, but I believe he is the next Daniel Day-Lewis. And the last 365 days have been very kind to him as he has killed it in Wonka (2023) and Dune: Part Two (2024). This film is pushing him closer to that upper echelon because not only is he brilliant as Dylan, but the film is an endearing look at the legend's life. I think this is one of the best acted films of the year, but I did notice some pacing issues that make it somewhat of a hindrance to most people.
Alright, let's get the obvious out of the way. Timothée Chalamet is probably one of the best actors working today, and the run he is on could be described by the youth of today as "generational." This film solidifies him as a bonafide movie star with immense talent. And I can bet you guys right now that an Oscar nomination is in this guy's immediate future. The way that this man was able to encapsulate a living legend and bring him to life was just stunning. Now as I mentioned in the introduction, I am not a big Bob Dylan fan. But even I can see how much effort Chalamet put into this role (he signed on for the role in 2020) and I hope he is able to be deservedly rewarded for his efforts and finally win an Academy Award (he actually is not my pick to win but I will be happy nonetheless if he wins).
I next want to talk about the performance of Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. I am not going to sit here and pretend I knew who this guy was before seeing this film, but now I am definitely interested in going back and checking out his discography. Norton is a three-time Academy Award nominee and there is a real chance that we will be seeing number four not too soon from now. I mean, Variety has him as a frontrunner for a nomination. Norton plays Seeger with such elegance and grace, which is something that only he can bring to the role. I also had no idea that Norton could sing, and want an album of original folk material as soon as yesterday. I hope he finally gets to win an Oscar because he definitely deserves it here.
I next want to praise the music of this film because it is, in my opinion, handled with poise and the elegance and grace it deserves. Third time's the charm, but none of these songs were songs I knew going into the film. Going out, I feel that I have a newer appreciation for the catalog of Dylan. Two of the songs that were definitely highlights for me were "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone." I know these are Dylan classics but they are new and original to me. Other songs I appreciated were "It Ain't Me, Babe," "The Times They Are a-Changin'," and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." I do also appreciate that all the artists were singing themselves, and they did it live on set (much like the cast of Wicked (2024) last month). I know there will be no Original Song since these are all Dylan and folk classics, but maybe we can get a nomination for Best Sound.
There is one negative I do have with the film, and it involves the layout of the script and the pacing. The dialogue is not the problem in this film, but what I do find to be the issue is the fact that we do not spend enough time during Dylan's formative years before the fame. I do feel as if the film jumps around a lot and we never really get enough time to soak in the events. And I think the reason for this is because the filmmakers put a greater emphasis on the music and getting that aspect down pat. I would have definitely added about a good 15-20 minutes in some places and shaved some scenes down to polish up the pacing of the film. other than that, no notes for me.
In conclusion, A Complete Unknown is a brilliantly acted and performed film that celebrates and honors one of the pioneers of music over the last six decades. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.
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