While there’s been no shortage of Bob Dylan biopics in the past, “A Complete Unknown” truly stands apart from the rest. It throws us into the most transformative moment of the eccentric’s career—the fiasco at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Based on Elijah Wald’s book Dylan Goes Electric, this isn’t just a retelling of history. It’s a plunge into the icon’s upbringing, evolution, and the moment folk music’s “golden boy” grabbed an electric guitar, turned up the volume, and sent an entire movement into crisis. But much rather than a biopic that puts the artist on a pedestal, we see a true, unfiltered portrayal of a true original, who refused to be put in a box.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET DISAPPEARS INTO DYLAn

- The Mango Critic

If we’re going to start somewhere, it’s Timmy Chalamet. This guy completely disappears into Dylan—not just in looks, but in the way he moves, talks, sings… it could go on and on. He’s got that half-mumbled speech, the mysterious looks, the way Dylan could seem detached yet completely in control of a room. And apart from his performance, just being able to understand the arc of an icon that we normally wouldn’t—from a shy, poetic drifter to an all-out rock star who’s done having any regard for what people think—is refreshing.

As for Monica Barbaro, she’s a scene-stealer as Joan Baez, capturing the wit & heartbreak behind a partner who loved Dylan, but knew he’d always be out of reach, in a way. Their performances together on and off the stage served that even more—with this relationship that was so push-and-pull, a complicated mix of infatuation, love, and resentment that makes it impossible to look away when they’re together.

Elle Fanning, as Dylan’s girlfriend at the time, balances out the cast with a much more grounded, emotional perspective of getting caught in the noise that surrounded Dylan. Then there’s Boyd Holbrook, who’s eerily accurate as Johnny Cash. His chemistry with Chalamet highlights a unique friendship built on complete and utter respect, and an understanding that neither of them belonged to anyone but the music. And I could never forget Ed Norton—he’s graceful as Pete Seeger, a gentle, close mentor to Dylan.

Despite it’s slower-pace, A Complete Unknown genuinely breathes well, offering an authenticity that makes every moment captivating and attention-grabbing. Every scene is crafted together perfectly, from smoke-filled settings behind the backdrop of 60's New York to dialogue as poetic as Dylan’s lyrics, written in a way that makes for lines that can truly resonate with you.

The accuracy of the time is done incredibly as well, seamlessly bringing together the political turmoil along with the cultural upheaval of the ‘60s timeframe. But what makes this film so effective in getting you invested all around, is the fact that it understands that Dylan’s story isn’t solely his story; it’s about the world and atmosphere that shaped him, the one he left changed forever.

Then, of course, there’s the music. Even if you only know Bob Dylan from a couple of greatest hits, this film will have you walking out with a new appreciation for the guy. Every performance feels authentic—not just because the actors learned to sing and play specifically for their roles, but because they get the spirit of these songs. Chalamet delivers Dylan’s early folk classics like “I Was Young When I Left Home” with a calming, serene vulnerability.

But then, very much like his arc in the film, shifts gears into the snarling, electric defiance of his rock classics, such as “Like a Rolling Stone”. And his lyrics—really some of the best written—hit even harder when given the weight and attention they deserve, like they are here. This movie doesn’t just showcase Dylan’s music, but most importantly, it makes you feel why it matters.

A Complete Unknown is more than another rock biopic—this is an experience, that radiates the genius, and defiance that made Bob Dylan an icon. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to his music, this isn’t just a movie about his refusal to stand still. But more so, a time machine, a concert, and a poetic love letter all at once. Though you might not fully understand him by the end—you’ll definitely understand why he was never meant to be figured out in the first place.

James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” is out now exclusively in theaters.

"A COMPLETE UNKNOWN"; A time machine, a concert, and a poetic love letter all at once; and the captivating journey of a musical legend who refused to be put in a box.