A Complete Unknown
The story of how Bob Dylan started out as a precocious young folk singer to his breakout success following being called “Judas!” At a concert is the topic of James Mangold’s film, with Timothée Chalamet starring, it’s a charming and occasionally brilliant evocation of specific music in the 60s. Dylan comes to New York and hears that Woody Guthrie is dying in a hospital. It’s unusual for people to visit, but he goes there and happens to meet Pete Seeger. He plays for Seeger and the mute Guthrie and it goes very well. Dylan gets introduced to Folk music people and soon meets Joan Baez ( Monica Barbaro ), with whom he begins a tempestuous professional and occasionally sexual relationship. This is to the disadvantage of Sylvie Russo ( Elle Fanning ) who is a version of Dylan’s partner at this time—the partner you can see on the cover art of The Freeweelin’ Bob Dylan . This is a joyful introduction to the Sixties from the point of view of Dylan’s musical community. There’s an exce...