A COMPLETE UNKNOWN directed by James Mangold (USA, 2024)
I went to see this with a long-time Bob Dylan fan. Although he praised Timothee Chamalet’s acting and Edward Norton’s star turn as nerdy Peter Seeger, he hated the movie. I loved it. Why the difference of opinion?
I think for my friend no film can ever do the real Dylan (whoever that may be) justice. In this he is correct but that doesn’t make this a bad film.
‘A Complete Unknown’ is a good title because it is about an artist who, despite all the books, articles, films and documentaries remains a man of mystery. As Todd Hayne’s 2007 film ‘I’m Not There’ illustrates by having six different actors play Dylan, he is many different people at the same time. He is who you want him to be.
The latest film is a simplification of his story but not a complete fabrication. It is not 100% accurate but it does encapsulate a key moment in musical history in an intelligent and respectful manner.
‘A Complete Unknown’ is just one part of his long career but probably the ‘Dylan Goes Electric’ moment will ultimately be how he comes to be defined by many. Significantly, the story ends at the same point as Martin Scorsese’s brilliant 2005 documentary – ‘No Direction Home’.
The mistake would be to see the Newport Folk Festival performance as Dylan rejecting acoustic folk in favour of amplified rock music. To date, he has released 40 studio albums, 21 live albums. Highway 61 Revisited ,released 55 years ago, was his 6th studio album. He is still making music and playing live.
Many of his work since 1965 could be classed as folk, some is country, some might call it electric blues. One thing his music is not is straightforward rock or even folk-rock. In a San Francisco press conference at the time he called it “vision music”. In part he was being ironic but this actually is as good a name as any.
In 1965, Dylan was not rejecting acoustic folk as a genre, he was rejecting the idea that other people could dictate what music he should play. Playing electric guitar was a statement to say he would do as he pleased. That is what he’s done ever since.
There will be other films about is amazing life and visionary music but Dylan will always be an enigma – a complete unknown.
