REVIEW: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

4/5

Like A Rolling Stone

141 Minutes. Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Dan Fogler, P.J. Byrne, Eriko Hatsune, Charlie Tahan, Boyd Holbrook & Scoot McNairy. Screenplay: James Mangold & Jay Cocks. Director: James Mangold. In: Theatres.

Unknown is hardly the word you would use to describe Timothée Chalamet. The 'Beautiful Boy' and your girlfriend's favourite actor has been making a name for himself since Luca Guadagnino's 'Call Me By Your Name'. And now with the successful Denis Villeneuve 'Dune' blockbuster series under his belt, heading for a holy trinity of a big-three, the American and French actor of Greta Gerwig's 'Lady Bird' and 'Little Woman' and Wes Anderson's 'The French Dispatch', is about to hit the big time. The young man, who has played everyone from 'Wonka' to Lil' Timmy Tim, is giving us the chronicles of Bob Dylan in what could be volume one of another epic trilogy, akin to his 'Boyhood' like series of GQ interviews with Daniel Riley. Going electric as Dylan in James Mangold's magnificent 'A Complete Unknown', Timothée could even take the 'Best Actor' Oscar away from 'The Brutalist' Adrien Brody, like he did at the SAG Awards. Wanting to be one of the greats like Daniel Day-Lewis or Viola Davis. 

Don't believe him? Just watch this Fox Searchlight Picture that shines one on the sixties of Dylan's life and times. Based on the book 'Dylan Goes Electric' by Elijah Wald. This adapted screenplay by Mangold and TIME and Rolling Stone writer Jay Cocks really is gold, as it mines storytelling beauty from a brutally cantankerous and reclusive man who had a hand in all this too. Courting controversy at a time the folk singer looked to plug in his protest sound and soul, you should see how a festival of fans and critics reacted to this, ready to bury an axe, and no hatchet, into his jukebox. In all this chaos, Chalamet is a spectacle as Dylan. Especially when he dons those shades and amazes. He looks the part in unkempt, curly hair and Howard Hughes fingernails. Walking the walk, down the Greenwich Village streets Dylan helped make famous, like other beat poets. And talking the talk in the cadence of his consonants, holding on to those vooowels. Not to mention, actually singing the songs, unlike the lion's share of biography movies. Sounding just like him in Dolby Atmos, where these greatest hits and bootlegs alike rip roar through the theatres and auditoriums like the arena of a live concert. Give Chalamet a Grammy, too.

The best Dylan, since an unrecognizable Cate Blanchett's undeniable performance, is here. You read that right, in a movie (Todd Haynes' 'I'm Not There') where everyone from Christian Bale to Heath Ledger played Bob. Not to be confused with Rachel Weisz's 'Complete Unknown', this James Mangold movie features other Oscar worthy performances for this eight Academy Award nominated picture. Namely, the great Edward Norton (too many formidable films to mention) as the icon Pete Seeger (with 'Norwegian Wood's Eriko Hatsune lovingly and loyally by his side), kindly like Mr. Rogers, but wanting to keep Dylan as his neighbourhood folk. And a maverick 'Top Gun' sequel star Monica Barabaro as Joan Baez, the soul of this protest story. Just like the bruised one of Elle Fanning, who deserves her own award as the woman behind the classic cover of 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'. When it comes to the one that got away, it really is her, babe. Add 'Fantastic Beasts' star Dan Fogler managing this all, like friendly face P.J. Byrne, and 'Ozark' one Charlie Tahan playing it again, like Sam, and you have fine performances across the sound board. But with nary a word, it's Scoot McNairy as an ailing Woody Guthrie that really hits harder. Then again, here comes the Man in Black. Stealing every scene he's in, walking the line.

Mangold already directed Joaquin Phoenix to the Oscar as Johnny Cash in 'Walk The Line', referencing a Bobby Dylan letter along the way. But now, in this spiritual sequel of sorts, the 'Girl, Interrupted', '3:10 To Yuma', 'Ford V Ferrari' and 'Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny' versatile and underrated director brings John back. All whilst reuniting with the Reaver of his 'Logan' (sequel to his Logan's run of 'The Wolverine' lost in translation, in Tokyo, Japan) villain Boyd ("y'all f####d now, Mutie") Holbrook (after dialling in last year's vastly underrated 'Indiana Jones' movie). Shooting his guitar like a shotgun and giving B.D. that look over his sunglasses, as a cigarette hangs from his lip, 'The Predator' and 'The Bikeriders' actor whispers into Bobby's ear, telling him to tread dirt on the carpet as he clicks. One man by his side in those electric times of divisiveness. After the epic and terrific first trailer of 'A Complete Unknown' on YouTube, one top commenter asked, "why is Johnny Cash introduced like a superhero?" Well, because he is one! Just like this Nobel Peace Prize winning writer (who didn't attend the ceremony) with the 'Highway 61 Revisited' kid's whistle is a true poet. Worthy of his own trilogy, as his story is still being written. Jimmy and Timmy could keep telling it. Then Chalamet's Dylan biograph will be truly complete. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Walk The Line', 'I'm Not There', 'Inside Llewyn Davis'.