The true backstory of Minnesota legend Bob Dylan comes to life in the new biopic “A Complete Unknown,” a mesmerizing dive into the enigmatic origins of one of music’s most influential icons.
“A Complete Unknown” (78% on Rotten Tomatoes, rated R; in theaters now) isn’t the first biopic movie James Mangold has directed, as he directed the award-winning Johnny Cash movie “I Walked the Line.” But these two historical movies aren’t the only ones he has done, as Mangold directed Academy Award winner “Ford v Ferrari” and several others.
The film is set in the early 1960s, representing New York City’s rising folk community. It follows a nineteen-year-old Bob Dylan as he embarks on his journey from Hibbing, Minnesota, to bustling New York, highlighting the highs and lows of his prime.
Timothée Chalamet, who also recently played Paul Atreides in the popular “Dune: Part Two,” plays Bob Dylan in the biopic.
“This is a project I’ve worked on for five and a half years,” Chalamet said in an interview with Cinema Daily.
Chalamet said he practiced the vocal range and guitar since the day the movie was prepared.
“This is an artist who’s really dear to my heart, and at least near and dear to my career, and we wanted to do him justice and not to be a smudge on his legacy in some way” Chalemet added, highlighting the effort he put into this.
Monica Barbaro will join Chalamet as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash.
Boyd Holbrook being cast as Johnny Cash is a surprise to many, as director James Mangold cast Joaquin Phoenix in the Biopic for Cash. The Cash movie, “Walk The Line,” was quite successful, reaching $187 million in box office with a $28 million budget.
Watch “A Complete Unknown” in theaters now, it won’t waste your precious time!
Bill snowden • Aug 9, 2025 at 2:03 am
Ive watched it 7 times. I avoided it at first because I didn’t believe there was anyway a director/ writer could capture the magic of the early Dylan . And j thought I’d spare myself the disappointment. Dylan is 6 yrs older than I am. I was in high school and the folk music scene was going to soon crash into the Beatles and the psychedelic generation. Dylan n Baez were a brief powerful presence in the collective early mid 60’s Consciousness. Total magic. Especially Dylan’s words/ songs- came through as personal messages to our unconscious.
How could a move capture that magic. I got every subtlety ever important moment and most importantly it knew what to ignore and just pass through and over. It caught the magic and the pain and the paradox. Loved it. They played their own instruments, sang incredibly in their own voices. I mean she had the ethereal sound of Joan Baez … how do you do that?
7 times. And I cry each time. So well done. Thank you.