Protest music has been a driving force in many political movements throughout history. Music puts people’s intangible feelings into words, and during political unrest that emotional outlet is important. Protest music involves political commentary translated into rhymes and rhythm, and can span from psychedelia to heavy metal. One of the most famous artists of the genre is Bob Dylan, who was the frontman of protest folk music during the 1960s.
“A Complete Unknown” is the most recently released biopic regarding Dylan. The film follows Dylan through his rise to fame up until his controversial 1965 performance at Rhode Island’s Newport Folk Festival.
The biopic, directed by James Mangold, stars award-winning actor Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and includes many more popular personalities throughout the cast list. The casting is well done, with each actor serving uncanny similarities to their real-life counterparts. Each time Chalamet takes a step or nods his head it feels as if the real Dylan is on the screen. Not only can Chalamet perfectly emulate Dylan, but he can provide shockingly accurate vocals as well. Each song was sung live on the set, which allows for a raw sound in the theater.
Dylan rose to fame during one of most fearful decades in American history, and “A Complete Unknown” excellently portrays the political landscape’s impact on his career and how listeners connected with Dylan through his political commentary. Through the incessant news reports of war and discrimination, Dylan’s music put people’s fear and anger into the words of a soothing lullaby, and that connection is translated into the modern day theater.
When Dylan made the switch from folk to electric in 1965, the public was caught off guard. The relatable boy from Minnesota had turned into an unrecognizable rockstar. The film signifies this change by switching Dylan’s wardrobe from flannels to leather jackets, and clean cut curls into wild unkempt hair. The switch was an act of rebellion from Dylan, who was tired of the same monotonous sound the public begged for. His defiance is perfectly encapsulated throughout several scenes, like when Dylan ignores Pete Seeger’s pleas to play a folk set at Newport.
Though believable, quite a few creative liberties were taken during the film’s creation. For example, the opening scene depicts Seeger singing Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land Is Your Land” to a throng of onlookers outside of a courthouse, but that scene is entirely fictional. Furthermore, Johnny Cash never encouraged Dylan to play an electric set at Newport; in fact, he was not even at the Newport Festival in 1965.
Overall, “A Complete Unknown” is an incredible film about one of the most influential musicians of all time. It offers an amazing cast list that greatly elevates the realistic elements of the film. The movie also provides an interesting portrayal of Dylan’s “Going Electric” controversy, as well as a good depiction of the 1960s political scene. Although not all of the timeline and events are accurate, the film is still entertaining and a recommendable watch.
