The biopic dramatizing Bob Dylan’s life, “A Complete Unknown”, left many people thinking twice about the nature of biopic films. Although Timothee Chalamet did a wonderful job at portraying Bob Dylan, many Bob Dylan enthusiasts were not exactly pleased with the depiction of the folk and rock icon’s life story. Many were expecting a film that was precisely accurate to the story of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame; however; this film skipped over a lot of details and fabricated the reality of the singer’s story.
Bob Dylan was a folk musician who rose to fame in the early 1960’s. His unique live performances and endorsement from iconic musicians like Joan Baez, who (one of his many “lovers”) greatly contributed to his popularity. He was well known for advocating for civil rights and antiwar movements through his music. He became an even greater music icon in 1965 when he released the controversial hit, “Like a Rolling Stone.” This marked his transition from folk to rock and roll and further highlighted his ability to successfully experiment with various music styles.
It makes sense that this film is not an entirely accurate portrayal of his life since the entire point of a biopic is to captivate and compel the audience by heavily dramatizing a narrative. If this film was meant to be a documentary on the life of Bob Dylan, then the disappointment that some were met with when they watched the film is completely understandable; however, this film is far from a documentary and does a great job of introducing the singer’s story in a beautifully cinematic way. It may not be true to his story, but it most definitely captured the essence of his persona and music style.
Riley Modesto, a junior at Mark Keppel, says that “Timothee portrayed Bob Dylan really well and his voice was really similar to the singer himself. I also like how he performs his new songs regardless of the backlash he received from the public for exploring a new music style.” It was certainly apparent throughout the film that Dylan wanted to break free from the mold that society bestowed upon him as a folk icon. He escapes from the grasp of society at the end of the movie by releasing music that incorporates electric guitar and various other instruments that were considered unconventional in the folk genre at the time.
Anyssa Perez, a junior at Mark Keppel, comments, “I think it was cool to hear how dedicated Timothee was to his role and the music.” The soundtrack surprisingly did an incredible job at capturing the true essence of Bob Dylan’s music. Many were not expecting such dedication from Chalamet to his role, especially since he has never starred in a biopic before.
Overall, this biopic was a cinematic masterpiece for some and an inadequate film for others. The way the film is perceived most definitely depends on the expectations of the individual watching the film. Some were expecting this film to send them blowin’ in the wind while others were not really expecting much. Regardless, this biopic vividly captures Bob Dylan’s journey to becoming one of the most influential musicians in the 60s and 70s.
