Upon first hearing that Timothée Chalamet was set the play Bob Dylan in an upcoming biopic, I admit to thinking they could have found someone better. But after seeing him in the role of the legendary American singer-songwriter, I wondered who could have played Dylan better. Chalamet delivers a knock-out performance in James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown”, a beguiling biography based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties.”

Chalamet tirelessly prepared for the role, learning how to play guitar and the harmonica while immersing himself into Dylan’s iconic lyrics and singing style. Mangold certainly put the actor’s training to good use. It’s said that Chalamet performed an astonishing 40 songs for the film. But here’s the best part – he surprisingly nails them which not only enhances his performance but strips away any hint of artifice. For 141 minutes Timothée Chalamet is Bob Dylan and we never doubt it for a second.

Among the many good choices that make “A Complete Unknown” work is Mangold’s decision to hone in on one segment of Dylan’s fascinating life. This is no cradle-to-grave biopic. Rather it’s an ensemble movie that traces Dylan’s musical journey from his arrival in New York City to his unforgettable 1965 performance at the Newport Folk Festival which sparked controversy after he took the stage with an electric guitar much to the dismay of his devoted folk music fans. 

The film opens in 1961 with a 19-year-old Bob arriving in New York City after hitching a ride from Minnesota. He has made the trek in order to visit his idol, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) who was committed to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. While visiting Woody, Bob meets the beloved folk singer Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) who immediately takes a liking to the young aspiring singer. Pete is even more smitten with Bob’s songwriting and begins introducing him around the New York City folk scene.

From there Mangold and his co-writer Jay Cocks chronicle Bob’s rise to fame mostly through the relationships that helped pave his path. One of his earliest is with Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), a character based on Suze Rotolo. Sylvie is more than just a love interest. She’s key in opening Bob’s eyes up to the troubled real world which would inspire so many of his hit songs. And more than anyone else, she encouraged him to sing his own songs after his manager Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler) gets him a record deal with Capitol Records.

The film also explores Dylan’s connection with fellow folk singer Joan Baez who is wonderfully played by rising star Monica Barbaro. Baez was already established when she first met Bob Dylan and she was one of the first to record some of his original songs which helped to put him on the map. Barbaro and Chalamet are terrific together, capturing the creative magic conjured whenever Baez and Dylan sang together while touching on the pair’s more tumultuous personal relationship.

The most fun of the supporting cast is Boyd Holbrook playing the great Johnny Cash. He doesn’t get many scenes but he steals every one he’s in through a performance that’s bursting with charisma. Holbrook gloriously channels Cash’s energy and swagger while adding a little flavor of his own to the character. Now I want another Johnny Cash movie with Boyd Holbrook playing ‘The Man in Black’.

While Mangold spends plenty of time delving into the personal life of Bob Dylan, he also takes us on a tour of American music history. Not only does “A Complete Unknown” honor traditional folk music and its impact on American culture, but it also shows how music was changing alongside that very same culture. That culminates in the film’s kinetic recreation of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival where Dylan shocked fans and angered festival heads by playing electric rather than acoustic. His brief set has been called a watershed moment for both folk and rock music.

While “A Complete Unknown” sweeps you away with its focused storytelling, timeless music, and phenomenal performances, it’s also strengthened by its period-perfect production design and costumes as well as rich cinematography from Phedon Papamichael. But it’s James Mangold’s clear passion that brings it all together. It seeps from every pore of his movie. And while fans of the music may find more to enjoy, there’s so much else to love that transcends mere musical tastes. It’s a transporting musical journey and one of the year’s best movies.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS