“A Complete Unknown,” Oscar contender? That may be the case if the first reactions to James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic are to be believed. Critics’ take on the film started trickling out onto social media platforms last night, and the consensus verdict? Mostly everyone loves it, with Timothée Chalamet’s performance as the iconic songwriter praised as a “true tour-de-force.” But there are a few negative takes out there, so let’s not call the Best Actor Oscar Chalamet’s just yet.
First up, critic Scott Menzel singled out Chalamet, who “delivers the performance of the year.” “Chalamet’s performance is not just about the voice and look,” Menzel continued, “but rather all of the little nuances and mannerisms that he perfectly brings to his life in his portrayal of Bob Dylan.” Jaz Tangcay agreed with Manzel, calling Chalamet’s turn “superior,” and Tim Gerber described Chalamet as “excellent.”
But it looks like most critics enjoyed the film’s secondary cast more, especially Monica Barbaro’s turn as Joan Baez. The Playlist’s own Gregory Ellwood tweeted that while “Timothee is fantastic,” “Barbaro is incredible. We need a Joan Baez spin-off movie.” Variety’s Clayton Davis agreed with Ellwood, writing, “For me, it’s Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning that anchor the story of an illusive, mysterious man that remains in that sphere.” Abe Friedtanzer felt similarly, writing, “Timothée Chalamet is well-cast, but Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton steal the show as Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.”
As for the movie’s awards buzz, Tim Gerber tweeted that “Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Cinematography, Sound, Costumes are possible. Meanwhile, Tangcay’s commentary predicts a possible Best Director nod for Mangold writing that he “and his entire team pull off a technical feat from sound, editing, costume, cinematography to production design, down to the subtleties of makeup and hair.” But what about Best Picture and Best Actor for Chalamet? It’s entirely possible if “A Complete Unknown” catches up with audiences next month. There’s no major frontrunner for Best Picture this year, so this Academy-friendly biopic could snatch away the prize from current favorite “Anora.”
But not everyone sees awards coming for “A Complete Unknown.” David Poland has an ambivalent take on the film, tweeting, ““A Complete Unknown” manages to tell us everything about Bob Dylan while telling us almost nothing about Bob Dylan. Some would say that was the target. The movie is ultimately about the power of the individual and talent and how what we all want can turn on a dime, repeatedly.” That sounds like a good movie, but not so great biopic; so take caution, Dylan diehards.
Directed by Mangold, “A Complete Unknown” follows Chalamet’s Dylan as he arrives in early 1960s Greenwich Village to pursue his career in folk music. As Dylan’s legend grows, he befriends other folk musicians like Barbaro’s Baez and Norton’s Seeger before veering into a different musical direction entirely, with the pic’s climax set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan first “went electric.” Other cast includes Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, P.J. Byrne as Harold Leventhal, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman, and more. Mangold and Jay Cocks adapt Elijah Wald’s 2015 book “Dylan Goes Electric!” for the film.
“A Complete Unknown” will be released on Christmas Day via Searchlight Pictures. You can watch a trailer for the film below.
