Kevflix And Chill’s review published on Letterboxd:
Timothée Chalamet is, in a word… electric.
Timothée Chalamet delivers a transformative performance as the enigmatic and iconic Bob Dylan. The film's superb song mixes—whether it's Chalamet singing, digital wizardry, or a seamless blend of both—are absolutely convincing. Monica Barbaro is utterly captivating as Joan Baez, while Boyd Holbrook steals every scene as the rebellious Johnny Cash. The film covers the genesis of his early folk career and crescendos toward Dylan's 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance where he famously ‘went electric.’ The film explores the tension between artistic creativity and commodity.
I must admit, I walked away loving the performances but not fully vibing with the film's focus on Dylan's "going electric." However, having sat with it for a while—and struggling through writing my full review—I've come to deeply appreciate what it says about art, artistry, and the forces that try to contain them. It's a compelling exploration of artistry in a culture that increasingly rewards familiarity over innovation, urging audiences to consider their own complicity in stifling artistic growth.
The film mirrors Dylan himself in many ways—elusive, challenging, and defiant. Mangold resists the temptation to fully decode Dylan, instead crafting a film that remains as enigmatic as its subject. Like Dylan's bold decision at Newport, A Complete Unknown almost refuses to "play the hits," offering a meditation on artistic reinvention rather than just a 'remake' or 'almost-sequel' of the genre-defining Walk the Line. Whether it resonates will depend on how much you're willing to embrace its spirit of evolution. Plus....Mangold does kinda still get to play the hits, though.
[Full Review on F🤩k, I Love Movies]
2024 Ranked
2025 Oscar Watchlist
Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 2
1. Monica Barbaro and Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick
2. Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon in A Few Good Men
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