I went into A Complete Unknown with high expectations. I’m not a Bob Dylan fanboy, but I grew up appreciating his music, and with James Mangold at the helm – his Walk the Line and Ford v Ferrari set a high bar – I expected something transcendent.
Instead, I got an average film that fell short.
The narrative felt shallow and contrived, like a surface-level sketch of Dylan’s early years rather than a deep dive into his genius or struggles. The pacing dragged, and the film seemed more interested in symbolism and mood…. endless guitar strumming, cigarette smoke, and people wearing sunglasses indoors at night… than in telling a compelling story. It focused on a short, not particularly fascinating period of Dylan’s life, leaving me wanting more depth, more conflict, more something.
The performances were fine… Timothée Chalamet captured Dylan’s mannerisms okay, and Edward Norton’s Pete Seeger was solid – but the script didn’t give them much to work with. The film held my attention, but only because I kept waiting for it to get better. It never really did.
6/10: A watchable but forgettable biopic that wasted its potential. If you’re a die-hard Dylan fan, you might appreciate the atmosphere. If you’re looking for a great movie, you’ll leave disappointed.
