What is A Complete Unknown about?

A Complete Unknown is an American biopic musical film, released on 25 December 2024, in the United States. The film is directed by James Mangold, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks. The film is based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! which came out in 2015, written by Elijah Wald. The film is about the early career of Bob Dylan, one of the most iconic and prominent musicians of all time. The name of the film comes from the chorus of the popular song “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan. The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, along with Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, etc. The film received a positive response from the critics.

A Complete Unknown also received many nominations, including 3 Golden Globe Awards, 6 BAFTAs, and 3 Critics Choice Awards. This film was announced before COVID-19 in 2020 but was put on hold because of the pandemic. While waiting, Timothée worked on his craft to prepare for the role. He learned to play the guitar and harmonica and visited Bob Dylan's old home to understand the character better. The film shows how he shaped his career and navigated the pressures of popularity while staying true to his creative vision.

What is A Complete Unknown about?

A Complete Unknown is a biopic musical drama that shows the story of Bob Dylan’s early career. The film begins with a young Dylan arriving in New York in 1961. He is desperate to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. Dylan ends up meeting Woody Guthrie along with Pete Seeger and performs a song he wrote for Woody. He impressed both of them and slowly became a part of New York’s folk music scene, building relationships with important figures like Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.

Dylan’s talent for songwriting and his unique voice quickly brought him recognition, leading to a record deal with Columbia Records. The film also explores Dylan’s evolution as an artist, showing how he transformed folk music and redefined his style.

As Dylan's popularity grows, he faces challenges in balancing his artistic vision with public expectations. Even though Dylan became popular, he felt he didn’t have the freedom to create the music he wanted. He was frustrated because he had to meet the expectations of the music industry and the folk music community. The film highlights his transition from traditional folk music to an electric sound, which sparks controversy, especially at his 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance. This important moment shows Dylan's effort to try new things and stay true to his music. It helped him become a big part of music history.

Who is Bob Dylan?

Robert Allen Zimmerman, popularly known as Bob Dylan is one of the legendary musicians and songwriters, born on May 24, 1941, in Minnesota, United States. Dylan was interested in music from a young age. In high school, he formed several bands. In the 1960s he moved to New York, where he entered the folk music scene and changed his name to Bob Dylan.

He was signed by Columbia Records and his debut album was Bob Dylan, released on March 19, 1962. His breakthrough album was his second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. He has given many hits like “Like a Rolling Stone”, “The Time They Are A-Changin”, “ Knockin’ on Heaven's Door”, “Hurricane”, and many more. He has also written books like Tarantula in 1971 and Chronicles: Volume One in 2001. He received many major awards including, 10 Grammy Awards, an Oscar Award, and a Golden Globe. He also received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.

Also read about: Cast of A Complete Unknown