Lucy Fortier and Julia Weible
“A Complete Unknown,” the film based on the highly acclaimed folk singer Bob Dylan, hit the theaters on December 25. Since then it has gained steady popularity, with a current Rotten Tomatoes rating of 96%, and countless gushing reviews.
But what do the students at Albany think? Is this movie a worthwhile watch? We as authors, Lucy Fortier and Julia Weible, have shared not only our own opinions on the movie, but we have interviewed numerous Albany High students as well.
The movie was created by James Mangold, and stars actors Timothee Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning and Edward Norton. It starts out with young Bob Dylan, portrayed by Oscar winning actor Timomthee Chalamet, making his way into New York. Making connections with singers and producers along the way, Bob makes his rise to fame through his distinguishable voice and remarkable musician skills, and changes the face of folk music forever.
One notable strength of the movie that stuck out to us the most was the music. Actor Timmothee Chalemet spent five years in order to capture the uniqueness of Bob Dylan’s voice by singing it live on set. He also learned to play various instruments such as the guitar and harmonica.
This impressed us very much, especially since he wasn’t the only actor who performed live music that sounded exactly like their character. Monica Barbaro, playing Joan Baez, also sang live on set and spent a year training for it. The music wasn’t just remarkable during live performances, but it was incorporated in many scenes, from Bob writing songs in his bedroom to him singing in the recording studio. It brought a level of authenticity and realness to each scene, instead of having to hear clearly pre-recorded songs.
The music seemed to be the highlight of the movie as Judah Branoff, senior, says, “the music was really good in it as well and I really liked it.” Ari Oshry, senior, and Minna Oshry, sophomore, also mentioned enjoying the music in their interviews.
Alongside the music, the acting stood out to us as well. Timothee Chalamet tapped into his character’s talents and complex personality, as well as mimicking Bob’s distinct speaking style. There were emotional scenes, exciting scenes, and pivotal moments, all wrapping together into a great performance by the actors and actresses.
However, some students mentioned that some of the characters might have been portrayed in a way that was unlike their real selves, especially in a more negative light. “I thought it kind of villainized [Bob] at the end … ” said Minna Oshry. Austin Walz, sophomore, agreed: “I thought it kind of villainized Joan Baez and made her seem like a homewrecker.”
Lastly, some moments in the movie were said to have been dramatized by viewers who are aware of the truth. Even though us authors didn’t pick up on certain dramatizations, multiple students have reported it. Ari Oshry said, “I heard that the reaction to Bob Dylan playing the electric guitar at the folk festival wasn’t as bad as it was in the movie. There was also a scene where they’re throwing food at him but in reality, they were just booing. I didn’t really mind though.”
Even though this might be a complaint for some, our opinions weren’t impacted by the parts of the movie that were historically inaccurate because the movie left us a lingering and overall beautiful message of individuality.
Overall, “A Complete Unknown” was a film with beautiful live music, compelling acting, and inspiring characters. The music significantly elevated the movie, and so, we highly recommend watching it before it leaves theaters.
