A Complete Unknown main backdrop
A Complete Unknown main poster

A Complete Unknown

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7.2/10 • 400

2024-12-182h 20m

DramaMusic

The ballad of a true original.

New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.

Directors
James Mangold
Editors
Scott Morris

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Timothée Chalamet

    Timothée Chalamet

    Bob Dylan

  2. Edward Norton

    Edward Norton

    Pete Seeger

  3. Elle Fanning

    Elle Fanning

    Sylvie Russo

  4. Monica Barbaro

    Monica Barbaro

    Joan Baez

  5. Joe Tippett

    Joe Tippett

    Dave Van Ronk

  6. Eriko Hatsune

    Eriko Hatsune

    Toshi Seeger

  7. Peter Gray Lewis

    Peter Gray Lewis

    Frank (Lawyer)

  8. Peter Gerety

    Peter Gerety

    Federal Judge

  9. Lenny Grossman

    Lenny Grossman

    Federal Court Clerk

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 21, 2025

7/10

I grew up in an household that loved Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (though not equally from parent to parent!), and I think it really only instilled in me a sense of contrariness. The more my dad banged on about how great Dylan and his lyrics were, the more that fell of deaf childish ears. Sitting down now I was worried I'd revert to my self of fifty-odd years ago, but thanks to a pretty convincing effort from Timothée Chalamet I actually found my feet moving - and not towards the door! It doesn't do him any harm that he resembles the man, and he manages to convey something of the spirit of this poet who, upon hearing that Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) is on his last legs in hospital, travels to New York to track him down. He finds Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) at the bedside of a sick man, plays him a song he's written about his hero and now thanks to some patronage from Seeger he starts to get gigs, meets "Sylvie" (Elle Fanning) then the already successful Baez (Monica Barbara) before taking the world - and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook) by storm. It's a classy biopic that, though chronological, isn't just a straight history of the man. It shows his character, warts and all, as he comes to terms with his success and some of the temptations and fickleness that goes along with it. Many critics say Dylan is the worst singer of his own songs and Chalamet keeps up that tradition offering some authentic sounding, but different enough, interpretations of some of the man's most recognisable songs. Barbaro also turns in well as Baez, though I found her voice just a little too operatic and not quite as effective. The production is clearly high-end with loads of attention to the detail, but essentially this is really a chance for Chalamet to show he is more than just a (very) skinny boy with floppy hair. Purists of the artiste may hate it, but I think it quite powerfully characterises this group of free thinking individuals in a 1960s America dealing with a presidential assassination, communist threats and a general sense of paranoia amongst a public that was clearly crying out for something to hope for. Dylan et al delivered some of that, and this comes across well.

Media

  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster
  • A Complete Unknown poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$65,000,000.00
Revenue
$97,620,626.00
Keywords
based on novel or bookmusicianbiography1960sdisdainfulbob dylan