Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
Directed by: James Mangold
Rated: R
Streaming on: Hulu, Disney+

James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” sets out to unravel the mystique of Bob Dylan, the man who would become the voice of a generation in the turbulent 1960s. And for the most part, it works—when it sticks to the music.

The film opens with Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet, appearing almost out of thin air onto the New York City folk scene at just 19 years of age. It captures a country in flux—from the civil rights movement and Cold War paranoia to the aftermath of JFK’s assassination—all backdropping Dylan’s meteoric rise. The historical threads director Mangold weaves throughout Dylan’s creative evolution are the film’s strongest suit. The music pulses with purpose, and the context gives it weight.

But when the story veers into Dylan’s personal entanglements, particularly a tepid love triangle involving folk legend Joan Baez (played by Monica Barbaro) and girlfriend (Elle Fanning), the pacing begins to falter. There’s little emotional payoff, and the romantic subplot ultimately feels like a distraction. A sharp exchange between the two—“You know we have to sing songs on this tour and somebody has to write them!”—captures Dylan’s restless drive, but the film spends too long circling around that same point.

Edward Norton gives a thoughtful turn as Pete Seeger, the blacklisted folk singer who recognizes Dylan’s raw talent and mentors him through the early stages of fame. Monica Barbaro also brings energy to a memorable role. Yet, despite strong performances, the film often seems more interested in mood than momentum.
Mangold doesn’t shy away from portraying Dylan as single-minded, even at the expense of those around him. The film doesn’t ask you to like Dylan—it simply asks you to watch him work. In that regard, it succeeds. But in trying to humanize the enigma, it occasionally loses focus.

Bottom line: “A Complete Unknown” hits the right notes when it leans into the music and the moment. But its detours into Dylan’s personal life slow things down. Still, for fans of Dylan and ‘60s history, it’s worth the ride—even if it’s a bumpy one.

Final Verdict 3 out of 5 stars