FILM/CINEMA/MOVIES

A Complete Unknown

A rolling stone for Chalamet — no spoilers

Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

Let me start by saying I am not a Bob Dylan fan. I know those are fighting words. I know half of you may hate me for it, but I just have never liked his voice. It’s like nails-on-a-blackboard to me. I am, however, a fan of Timothée Chalamet and the choices he makes in his acting career.

When I first heard about this James Mangold 2024 biography about Dylan starring Chalamet, I was disinterested. But after listening to an interview by his co-star Edward Norton, I was intrigued to see the performance Chalamet presents as the young Bob Dylan.

Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

Ed Norton, who plays Pete Seeger in the film, could not say enough about Chalamet‘s talented performance.

Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

He said young Chalamet embraced the poetic and political impact of Bob Dylan, not only in his early years, but in his lifetime of music. Norton praised Chalamet-engrossing himself in everything Dylan to prepare for the role.

Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

I am indeed a child of the 60s and I grew up listening to Bob Dylan’s music through my older brothers and sisters. My siblings outgrew their 45s and gave them all to me. I listened to The Beatles, Sly Stallone, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin over and over and over. I loved the protest songs, anti-war songs and the Spirit in the Sky.

Perhaps I was still just a bit too young to fully understand the impact and influence Bob Dylan‘s music made on American teenagers at the time. As an adult and throughout the years, I do appreciate the music, poetry and the movement of Bob Dylan. I just wish I could get past his voice.

Timothy Chalamet has had wonderful roles as Petritis in Dune and Dune 2, in *Beautiful Boy, and Wonka*. For a young man, he is an incredible multifaceted talent. To be an A-lister at his age is a fabulous predictor of the work he will do in his lifetime.

Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

Taking on Bob Dylan was a dangerous role for him. Dylan fans will either love him or hate him. Hopefully, it won’t define him and pigeonhole him into roles similar to this. Chalamet has too much range to offer as an actor.

A Complete Unknown grossed over $140 million worldwide and received critical acclaim. It received eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress (Monica Barbaro). Weirdly enough, both Chalamet and Norton both received nominations for their acting in this film. It received three nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and six at the British Academy Film Awards (including Best Film).

Barbaro as Joan Baez. Photo credit Searchlight Pictures

So despite my not being a Dylan fan, I am definitely a fan of A Complete Unknown, now available on Prime, Apple TV and other streaming services.

© June 2025 A. Roe

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