How Does It Feel? Like A Complete Unknown...Like a Rolling Stone

Review by regular contributor Val Ruloff 

How does it feel? Like a complete unknown. Like a rolling stone.
There's the answer, my friend. Blowin' in the wind...Bob Dylan was and remains in many ways a complete unknown. Ever inscrutable, enigmatic... this film does a stunning job of portraying these qualities, as well as the intensity of the subject.

A Complete Unknown is a musical "biopic" about Bob Dylan, based upon the book written nearly a decade ago by Elijah Wald, "Dylan Goes Electric". James Mangold is the director, producer and also wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks. James Mangold is known for directing "Walk the Line", about Johnny Cash. A Complete Unknown had been planned some little while, with six years of preparation by lead actor.

The lead performance by Timothee Chalamet, also credited as a producer, is outstanding. Support casting and performances are excellent, including Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie. The actors deserve credit for their effective and powerfully expressed, sometimes very poignant performances, carrying responsibility for portrayal of such iconic characters.
"Iconic" will be recurring here... even including Now Voyager's iconic role played by Bette Davis in a scene at the cinema, with Bob Dylan and Sylvie Russo engaging in deep discussion about the screen character.

The music in the film is fabulous. Standout performances provided by Timothy Chalamet as Bob Dylan and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. The music soundtrack and performances are stand-alone features of the film. How could they not be... with an iconic catalogue like this. Not only that, but the vocals are performed by the actors themselves as the artists.

The storyline covers a snapshot period in Bob Dylan's life, from 1961 until the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. It's especially interesting to speculate on the scope of film biography to accurately portray a life. This is especially the case when the subject is living... and is an icon.

The era and locations are depicted and photographed beautifully. Once again, an iconic and groundbreaking period for music, art and culture set for the most part Greenwich Village, New York.
There's even a tantalising glimpse of Bob Dylan's earlier life depicted briefly in the film when he receives a package. It's addressed to Mr Robert Zimmerman, containing past photographs including old school year book.
Bob Dylan's personal artistry and his own fiercely unique creativity and musical direction are put to the ultimate test when he headlines at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Bob Dylan showcases his determination to continue to be individual whatever the cost and this brings the film towards its dramatic conclusion. These scenes prompt further conjecture about the exact nature of crowd reaction to Bob Dylan's performance at the time, not to mention whether actions were in reality almost taken to threaten that performance.

A Complete Unknown has the authenticity of Bob Dylan's own involvement. Bob Dylan took part in a table read-through of the script with James Mangold, reading his own part in full.

Audience reaction was audibly positive, with laughter at some of the humorous moments. Very favourable comments at the end of the film.

Highly recommend going along to view this screening. Suffice to say.....

Hey Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me... I'll come following you.