Without question, this is one of the most apt and suitable movie titles for a biopic that perhaps I can ever recall.  Movies, including multiple documentaries, have attempted to increase our understanding of the man, the myth, and the legend who is Bob Dylan.  Indeed, he remains an enigma wrapped up in a mystery. To its credit, this film does a solid job of unraveling the mystery a bit further, but it likely will not satisfy the likes of diehard Dylan fans.  Nevertheless, fans will likely praise the movie for casting Dylan’s work in a very positive light through various venues, including the infamous Gaslight Theatre, recording studios, and film festivals.

While the movie stays somewhat true to actual events and characters, it is a fictionalized version of four years of Dylan’s life.  (To be clear, this is not a documentary, and as such, some liberties are taken in respects to the story).  The story begins in 1961 when “Robert Zimmerman”, or Bob Dylan, made his way from Minnesota to Greenwich Village in New York City.  As a New Yorker like myself, I was impressed with how they transformed the iconic “foot traffic corners” (e.g. MacDougal & Minnetta).  The movie-goer is transported to a different time when “Bohemians” flocked to the Village to consort with other musicians, artists, and literary geniuses. To be sure, it was a tumultuous time in the early to mid-1960s in the United States and this, in part, fueled the rebellious folk singing genre/movement.  Dylan joins the genre only to challenge it a few short years later by “going electric.”  This could be viewed as a “tame challenge” by today’s standards, but this was an absolutely heretical and blasphemous move on Dylan’s part – and the fans turned on him.

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Not surprisingly, one of the standout strengths of this film is quite simply the music itself.  Aside from Dylan’s signature songs, some folk music favorites are brought to light through characters such as Joan Baez—a word of warning to those who are not particularly fond of this music.  The continual musical numbers may make the movie feel rather protracted because the plot and storyline both tend to slow down when the music is performed.  Nevertheless, the Director’s choice to include a plethora of songs was the right one such that highlighting Dylan’s “once-in-a-generation” musical genius is central to this film.  The other noteworthy strength is Timothy Chalamet’s performance, which should land him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.  Along with successfully capturing the essence of the enigmatic Dylan, he sang in a voice that sounded like a true match.  If I shut my eyes, I could not have discerned the difference between Chalamet’s and Dylan’s voices.

My expectations were very high for this film, and perhaps partly for that reason, I thought it was “very good”, but not “excellent”.  My biggest knock was that I didn’t know where the movie was headed as the story moved along from one music venue to another whilst tracking Bob’s “on-and-off-again” relationships with the women in his life.  Regardless, it is a well-made film that will undoubtedly be recognized as the awards season is coming up soon.

On a personal note, one big “shout-out” to the CEO/Founder of the RunPee App such that I had the privilege to watch this movie with him on Christmas Eve at one of my local multiplexes in the Big Apple!

Grade: B

About The Peetimes: I saw this movie with fellow Peep Steven Blackman. As soon as the movie ended we both agreed that it was crazy hard to find good Peetimes.

But, in review, we were able to come up with three decent Peetimes.

I think the second Peetime is the best of the bunch, but you do you. 🙂

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Merry Christmas!

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of A Complete Unknown.

Plot
At the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, a young Bob Dylan shakes up his act on the folk music scene by going electric and siring rock as the voice of a generation – defining one of the most transformative moments in 20th century music.