Chalamet’s portrayal of the legendary singer-songwriter captivates with a mix of humour, rebellion, and raw emotion in James Mangold’s biopic

In A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet’s transformation into Bob Dylan is a masterstroke of both acting and musical interpretation, delivering a performance that’s poised to challenge award-season expectations. Directed by James Mangold, the film chronicles Dylan’s electrifying journey from folk troubadour to rock icon, capturing the tumult of the early 1960s and the creative restlessness that drove the musician to redefine his sound and image.

Chalamet excels as a young Dylan—awkward, witty, and fiercely independent. He channels the smirking, scowling essence of Dylan, portraying the singer as both an unwilling leader and an enigmatic figurehead of a generation. One of the film’s most memorable moments comes when Dylan, asked if he is God, quips, “How many more times? Yes.” This is just one of many moments where Chalamet blends rebellious humour with a deep sense of isolation, illustrating the weight of fame and artistic evolution that Dylan carried.

The film focuses heavily on the conflict surrounding Dylan’s shift from folk to electric music, culminating in the infamous 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance. This pivotal moment in music history, where the audience’s “Judas!” cry rang out in protest, is reimagined in the film, further exploring Dylan’s struggle with purist folk traditions, as well as his need to push boundaries and evolve.

Chalamet’s portrayal is further enhanced by the supporting cast. Monica Barbaro plays a cultured Joan Baez, offering an elegant foil to Dylan’s chaotic brilliance, while Elle Fanning is gentle yet grounded as Sylvie, a reflection of Dylan’s real-life muse, Suze Rotolo. Edward Norton brings warmth and wisdom as Pete Seeger, the folk mentor who gives Dylan his big break but is devastated by his departure from the genre. Boyd Holbrook provides a strong performance as Johnny Cash, and Scoot McNairy appears in a brief but poignant role as Woody Guthrie.

Musically, Chalamet immerses himself in Dylan’s world, performing the songs with impressive authenticity. His rendition of “Don’t Think Twice” captures Dylan’s distinctive, almost stoned vocal style, blending vulnerability with defiance. The film itself is a tapestry of this reinvention, focusing on Dylan’s quest to define and redefine himself in the public eye, often at the expense of his relationships and personal well-being.

Mangold and co-writer Jay Cocks draw from Elijah Wald’s book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan and the Night That Split the Sixties, offering a rich, layered narrative that explores the intersection of music, politics, and culture in the 1960s. The film’s pacing allows for moments of quiet reflection and intense performance, making it a compelling exploration of an artist whose impact is still felt today.

Chalamet’s Dylan is not just a man with a guitar, but a shapeshifter—someone constantly at odds with the world around him, crafting new identities and musical genres as a form of self-empowerment. The film sidesteps the British Invasion, focusing instead on Dylan’s personal battles, making it an intensely American story. This approach emphasizes his role as a singular figure who, at the height of his fame, was determined to remain unpredictable and free.

In A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet delivers a career-defining performance that brings Bob Dylan’s mythos to life, offering a glimpse into the soul of one of music’s most transformative figures. This biopic is a triumph, not just as a chronicle of Dylan’s rise but as a nuanced portrayal of the man behind the music.