"A Complete Unknown" is about a journey for authenticity and artistic expression, highlighting the struggle of forging one's own identity. It explores the balance between staying true to oneself and conforming to external expectations.
Growth is something personal, and it's challenging to make others understand the changes within you. And not everyone will understand why you must change at all.
This is even more true in music industry, where resistance to change is so baffling common. When an artist ventures into a different genre, most fans are often reluctant to accept the evolution, preferring artists who have never strayed from their roots.
As Bob Dylan evolved his musical style from traditional folk to electric rock, he faced backlash during his transition.
He wanted his fans and his people to understand that he had changed and didn’t want to be confined to the same box—or any box for that matter—anymore. He aspired to expand his skills, experiences, and identities even further.
However, the manner in which he approached the situation is troubling due to his unpleasant demeanor. His relationship skills are lacking, and he treats people poorly. Instead of building bridges of understanding, he kept burning them, alienating himself further. This made the transition much worse than it needed to be.
My brother jokingly suggested renaming the movie "A Complete Asshole”, and I kind of agree.
I appreciate how the movie portrays the ugly phase of pivotal changes in Dylan's musical journey, paralleling Sylvie's relationship departure. Just as Sylvie, his ex-girlfriend, left him, Dylan had to come to terms that her heart wasn't in it anymore.
It reflects how one can fall out of love with something or someone, and there is no point in trying to hold on when there is nothing left to hold on to. Just as when an artist grows out of a particular phase, returning to it seems like an impossible task.
While revisiting past selves is possible, one's identity and aspirations often no longer align with them anymore.
One frustrating aspect is that by the end, Dylan’s background remains ‘a complete unknown’. Sylvie points out in the story how he never spoke about his family or past, which was a pain point for her. However, this issue was neither resolved nor addressed further, leaving a lack of depth in exploring his personal history and beliefs, which I found to be a shortcoming for the movie. That, and some of his songs are so underutilized in building the narrative.
Despite its flaws, "A Complete Unknown" is a great movie. While the story doesn't have many plot lines and nuances, I find its simplicity can be a strength. It also features an incredible soundtrack that deepens my appreciation for Bob Dylan’s work.
The acting performances are all outstanding, with each cast member delivering remarkable portrayals and vocal performances.
Timothée Chalamet, in particular, has significantly improved his singing skills since "Wonka." Initially, I had doubts, but he proved me wrong in this film. He nailed both the singing and playing the guitar and harmonica. He is genuinely talented, and I believe he deserved the Best Actor award for his performance.