STORYLINE: Set in the influential New York City music scene of the early 1960s, “A Complete Unknown” follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts as his songs and his mystique become a worldwide sensation that culminates in his groundbreaking electric rock-and-roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. (IMDb)

   There is a tradition of biopics of being formulaic. It is one of the reasons I loved 2019’s Elton John biopic Rocketman so much. It infused the genre with an element of fantasy.  The 2007 Bob Dylan inspired feature I’m Not There flipped the traditional biopic on its side and crafted a unique film in the process. 

    The 2024 release, A Complete Unknown, is a straight forward biopic about Bob Dylan.  There is nothing wrong with covering the subject matter in this traditional fashion. In fact I rather enjoyed the film and listening to the music in the surround sound of ythe movie theater. I also thought Timothée Chalamet played a fine Bob Dylan. It is after experiencing the unique film that is I’m Not There that I am let down with the traditional biopic on Bob Dylan,

    However I must separate the films.  A Complete Unknowm is its own film. As previously mentioned, as a stand alone film, I enjoyed seeing the back story of Bob Dylan. I enjoyed seeing the inspiration for some of the songs that I throughly enjoy of his.  Once again I throughly enjoyed watching Timothée Chalamet‘s portrayal of the central character.  

   Is this the greatest music biopic ever to grace the silver screen?  It is a far cry from Walk the Line and Ray but well worth the price of admission.

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!