Summary
Timothée Chalamet brings his enormous talent to James Mangold’s biopic,A Complete Unknown. Mangold has a unique ability to sell the story of American music legends.Walk the Lineearned Reese Witherspoon an Oscar for her portrayal of country icon June Carter Cash and Joaquin Phoenix a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of the legendary Johnny Cash.A Complete Unknowncontinues Mangold’s explorationinto the lives of music legends as he takes on the life of Bob Dylan.
A Complete Unknownmarks Mangold’s first time directinga musical biopic sinceWalk the Line. However, much of Mangold’s work delves into an understanding of Americana legend. Whether it is the Western themes evident inLoganor the more obvious Western elements of3:10 to Yuma, Mangold excels at telling stories steeped in the American mythos.A Complete Unknownis the successor toWalk the Linein that he uses another quintessentially American storyteller as his protagonist.
10 Most Exciting Things About Timothée Chalamet’s Upcoming Bob Dylan Biopic
With Timothée Chalamet as the folk legend, there’s a lot to be excited about regarding the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
Timothée Chalamet’s A Complete Unknown Is A Spiritual Successor To Walk The Line
Both Films Honor American Music Legends
On paper, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash were very different ’60s musicians. Cash was a country singer rooted in Southern tradition and music. On the other hand, Dylan was a folk singer who made his way to New York and appealed to the counterculture. However, both artists championed stories of the underdog and those who cannot speak for themselves. Cash championed prisoners' rights, and Dylan’s music inspired political change.
LikeWalk the Line, Mangold will also feature actors singing in the film. Yes, that isTimothée Chalamet singing inA Complete Unknown. He used this to great effect in Walk the Line. The singing allowed the artists to fully immerse themselves in the work and better understand their characters. It also adds an air of authenticity to the movies.
How Bob Dylan’s Story Will Be Different To Johnny Cash’s
The Film Appears To Cover Less Time
Walk the Linewas an expansive biopic that covered over 20 years of Cash’s life.A Complete Unknownappears to cover a shorter period, which will likely benefit the story.While an excellent biopic,Walk the Linewas so structured that it inspired a parody film. Mangold would be wise to deviate from the standard musician biopic formula to add less predictability to the story.
Walk the Line took a chronological approach to Cash’s life.A Complete Unknownwill likely focus on Dylan’s decision to use electric instruments and how that affected his place in the folk community. Mangold should definitely focus on this moment as it was pivotal in the musical landscape of the 1960s and Dylan’s artistic evolution.
James Mangold specializes in biopics, as aside fromWalk the Line, he also directedGirl, Interrupted, andFord v Ferrari.
It remains to be seen whetherA Complete Unknownwill be a better biopic thanWalk the Line. It should, however, provide a new look into Bob Dylan’s life during one of the most interesting periods of his life. Mangold’s unique talents for crafting compelling narratives rooted in American history and music and Chalamet’s dedication to the role could elevateA Complete Unknownbeyond standard biopic fare.
