A Complete Unknown

“I saw Ten Thousand Talkers Who’s Tongues Were All Broken” I’ll just preface this by saying I have an extreme bias towards Bobby Dylan. He has been my favorite musician since I was 3 and according to my mother, I’d scream and cry in the backseat of her and my father’s cars until they put in the CD of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (the best album ever, sorry not sorry.) and his music has meant to me what it’s meant to so many others, I wouldn’t be who I am without Bob. And with all that being said, how was the movie? Well… It may be one of the greatest pieces of cinema I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Bob is undeniably one of the most important figures in music, and the story of him defying everyone to change music forever in 1965 in Newport is an absolutely incredible tale. And the way it’s presented in this film is engrossing, and just like Bob’s Music, a beautiful masterpiece of emotion. The use of Bob’s music in this film is just absolutely perfect, and I sobbed my way through every needle drop. Timmy is pitch perfect as Bob, and plays him in a way of perhaps the most compelling lead performance I’ve seen this year. But the supporting cast are just as amazing too, Ed Norton as Pete Seeger is incredible, and one of the best supporting performances I’ve seen this year, Joanie, and Sylvie (played by Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro) are absolutely excellent, and nail the subtleties needed to portray the characters, and Johnny Cash, the man in black himself, played by Boyd Holbrook, is exceptional, and adds a hilarious yet unique emotion to the film. But the real supporting stand out to me here is Woody. Ol’ Woody Guthrie played by Scoot McNairy, is captivating in every scene he has. I can’t even explain why he was so perfect, but he just was. James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” lived up to every steep expectation I had, and even surpassed them by miles. From brilliant performances all around the board, to absolutely gorgeous cinematography, and an excellent story, this film is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and serves as a beautifully heartfelt ballad, to a true original.