“A Complete Unknown,” a striking tribute to Bob Dylan, follows Dylan on his rise to fame in the 1960s: highlighting Dylan’s most transformative years and capturing the interwoven tapestry of his music, life and relationships. The film features Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo. Baez is an American singer-songwriter, whose relationship with Dylan was closely tied to folk music at the time. Russo is fictional, inspired by Dylan’s former girlfriend Suze Rotolo. The film tells a touching life story of not only musical accomplishments but of Dylan’s life and rise to fame.

Directed by James Mangold, the film details Dylan’s experiences and quick rise to fame through notable performances. Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in particular was impressive—he embodied Dylan’s mannerisms, voice and personality, displaying the transformation of Dylan from an unknown folk singer to a musical sensation. Barbaro’s performance as Joan Baez and Fanning as Sylvie Russo added another layer to the film, exploring Dylan’s personal relationships and revealing the complexity of his character. 

The film begins with Dylan’s arrival in New York City with a goal to find Woody Gutherie, a musician he looks up to. The audience is thrown into Dylan’s world of music and songwriting, as he navigates the city, his relationships, and his growing fame. The film culminates with Dylan’s controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival, where he transitioned from folk music to electric rock with songs like “Maggie’s Farm” and “Like a Rolling Stone”. The film showed his evolution not only personally, but as an artist wanting to redefine himself as well. 

The soundtrack of the film was remarkable, with the musical performances being done by the actors themselves. The songs were performed with striking accuracy, and allowed viewers to be fully immersed in the musical world of Bob Dylan. With remarkable performances like “Blowin In The Wind”, the soundtrack complimented the film and helped tell the story of Bob Dylan and his transformation.

“A Complete Unknown” received several awards nominations at the Golden Globes on Jan. 3. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Chalamet was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Although it did not win any of the categories, the film  still garnered very high ratings. 

Mangold told a pivotal story of Bob Dylan’s life in “A Complete Unknown.” Exploring moments that shaped his early career and relationships that inspired him, the film goes deeper than just the musical talent of Dylan, it reveals his life story. Although it could have gone more into depth about his character and background, the film captures Dylan’s talent and creativity, as well as how he refused to stay the same, redefining himself through music.