A Complete Unknown

Carrying nostalgic appeal for a bygone era, A Complete Unknown spotlights the convergence of folk songs and politics, and some of the most influential figures in that movement, through the eyes of a naïve neophyte who would eventually shine brighter than all of them.

This portrait of Bob Dylan’s formative musical years from director James Mangold (Ford v. Ferrari) follows a rather conventional biopic trajectory yet finds gradually finds its own unique rhythm, thanks in part to some committed acting and stirring performance sequences.

The film starts with a familiar scenario — teenage Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) arrives in New York from his native Minnesota with a guitar and a dream.

While visiting the hospital room of his legendary idol, Woody Guthrie, he meets Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), the de facto caretaker of the blossoming Greenwich Village folk scene, who gets Dylan in the door. Later, he meets Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), which triggers a relationship both personal and professional.

While engaging in mutual appreciation among his peers, Dylan struggles with the pressures of fame. Finding his voice comes amid considerable sociocultural upheaval at the time, except his burgeoning political awareness and artistic legitimacy clashes with his aloof and iconoclastic personality.

More than anything, Dylan wants to call his own shots, taking a dismissive attitude toward the commercial side of the business. “Two hundred people in that room, and each one of them wants me to be someone else,” he laments after prematurely ditching a gathering of label executives.

As he cycles through women including his muse Sylvie (Elle Fanning), Dylan’s first love is the music. With his star on the rise, he audaciously ditches the acoustic sound for drums and keyboards — sort of like a rolling stone — and dares his fans to come along.

The film immerses us in its setting from both a visual and a musical perspective, capturing the urban hustle and bustle that forms the backdrop for its story of artistic inspiration and creative discovery.

Chalamet’s appropriately understated portrayal isn’t as concerned with mimicking Dylan’s speech and mannerisms — although he does nail “Blowin’ in the Wind” vocally — as in conveying his essence. And the film takes on the same mindset.

Dylan’s introverted nature keeps him at an emotional distance throughout the film. However, A Complete Unknown smartly enables the music to shine above all else as Dylan remains a rebel with a cause.

Rated R, 140 minutes.