He Would Rather be "A Complete Unknown"

Title: A Complete Unknown Director: James Mangold Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook Studio: Searchlight Pictures Genre(s): Drama Rated: R (For language)

Bob Dylan, from my perspective, is not so much a musician as he is a poet. His songs typically had simple melodies and his voice was raspy to the point of being grating to some. Yet his words were powerful and insightful, tapping into the hopes and fears of millions of Americans across the world. He is also someone who has never enjoyed being famous, and, while far from a recluse, has avoided participating in many of the ceremonies that would give him accolades. As the title suggests, in some ways he would be happier in life if he was "A Complete Known."

The new film from James Mangold (who also directed the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line") is fascinating in that it follows a man who almost falls into fame and influence accidentally, and lives his life as if he would have been happier not being famous at all. The movie doesn't even get into his childhood or origins. Such details are evasive topics for the real Bob Dylan, and as such the film Bob Dylan (played masterfully by Timothée Chalamet) brushes them off. We first meet the future musician getting out of a cab looking to visit his musical idol Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), who after a long career singing politically charged anthems finds himself living in a hospital, no longer able to live the life he once knew.

A young Bob sings a song he wrote for him, and despite the limited movements, the older Woody is touched and amazed by the man singing in front of him. So too is the other observer, Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), who sees not only the talent but the means of using that talent to bring folk music to a new generation. He would be right (as most people watching the film know), but Dylan himself isn't too impressed with his success. Even when he gets his first major paycheck he lives in a rundown apartment and rides a motorcycle around town. His relationships are marred by infidelity and his unwillingness to open up about who he was in his past.

He seems most happy when he is writing his lyrics while smoking a cigarette, pondering why he should be the man everyone wants him to be. In some ways, this is the sort of story we expect from these types of films. The singer becomes famous through some strokes of luck, the right person recognizes talent when they sees it, and money and fame change the person. In that way, "A Complete Unknown" isn't exactly a complete original. What is fascinating about this particular film is how it follows someone who, while appreciative of his success, never seems to truly love the fact that he has become famous in the first place.

He receives a letter from Johnny Cash informing him that his record is a prized possession of the legendary country singer, yet he seems offended when fans want him to play his old songs. His biggest professional partner is Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), whose career gets a big boost by collaborating with him even as their relationship never seems to exit the 'rocky' phase. Is she interested in him or what he can do for her career? The movie wisely never answers, but we can see the conflicted feelings Dylan has about the relationship. No biopic would be complete with tragedy, and here it comes from his relationship with Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), who loves him but is frustrated by the disconnect he has with his own feelings. 

People who watch "A Complete Unknown" are unlikely to understand the man better. Does he even understand himself? What the film does brilliantly (something most of these types of movies fail) is to convey to the audience what Dylan's songs mean to HIM, and how they came to be! The real Bob Dylan rarely does interviews and refers to his work as the thing that best represents who he is. "A Complete Unknown" makes the strongest case ever that a poet's inner thoughts are going to be found more in his work than in his life.