It didn’t take me that much to love “A Complete Unknown.” And I am by no means the biggest Timothee Chalamet fan. But the movie took me by surprise, and I came away feeling pleasantly surprised.
What Worked:
- Chalamet’s Performance: Really taken back and impressed with Chalamet’s interpreting the character. He captures Dylan’s energy and intellectual interest in a detailed, engaging way.
- The Music: Of course, the music is awesome. The film really does a fantastic job of showing Dylan’s beginnings and his move from folk to “electric”.
- The Cinematography: Visually gorgeous, the movie shows off the rough-and-ready bohemian feel of 1960s New York City.
- Focused History: The film doesn’t attempt to recap Dylan’s entire life, but rather focusses on a time frame and takes it from there in order to better understand his personality and career.
What Could Have Been Better:
- Timeliness: The film manages to convey the time period well but sometimes the story they are delivering feels a bit forced with some of the characters that are introduced (Johnny Cash, etc).
- Pacing: Sometimes, the pacing feels a little off, especially in the slower, more reflective scenes. And does he really have a guitar at his disposal all the time?
Overall:
“A Complete Unknown” is a great biopic, and it’s a fresh way to look at Bob Dylan. It’s a must-watch film for Dylan fans or anyone that just wants a decent biopic.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
