New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.

“How does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?”
~Bob Dylan

Discussing A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Oscar-nominated filmmaker James Mangold says, “This is a story about a specific moment in a person’s life, not their whole life. And it is about a world where so much is communicated with song.” What interested him even more about this time in Dylan’s life were the personal questions the material raised – notions of inherent genius and talent which certain artists are simply born with – and the blessings and burdens of that talent which can, at the same time, make you wildly popular yet utterly alone.

In the early 1960s, the United States was a nation in the throes of redefining itself, grappling with profound social, political, and cultural upheaval, with anti-war and civil rights activism at the forefront. It was a moment of openness in the arts for expressionism, with everything happening, it seemed, in lower Manhattan. The blossoming of modern jazz with Miles Davis, the evolution of daring comedy with Lenny Bruce, the explosion of pop art and Andy Warhol’s famed Factory Studio – and the folk music movement, precipitated by Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Young Bob Dylan arrived in January of 1961, guitar in hand and taken in by a movement unknowingly in search of a leader.

That’s the backdrop against which A COMPLETE UNKNOWN unfolds, which charts the four years marking his rise from hard-scrabbling vagabond to rock-and-roll icon. “In one of the first scenes, Dylan finds Woody Guthrie in this VA hospital in New Jersey and sings a song that he wrote for him,” explains Mangold. “You have this community that takes him in, and the culture ends up elevating him until he’s bigger than the movement he was taken into.”

Mangold was immediately taken by the currents of this story – of Dylan the iconoclast, the relationships surrounding him, and his specific rise to stardom in a four-year span. He also wanted to capture Dylan’s joy and exhilaration when he first plugged in his guitar and played with an electric band. Mangold, whose vision and style unites his diverse award-winning films with humanist themes, intimate performances, and striking staging and imagery, had already explored the music biopic space with the award-winning Walk the Line. He knew a standard-order biopic was the wrong recipe, for any exploration of an artist, especially for Bob Dylan.

Dylan’s ascent came at a pivotal moment, with the Cold War looming over every aspect of life. The Cuban Missile Crisis would eventually bring the world to the brink of catastrophe, followed by the 1963 JFK assassination that would shatter the nation’s innocence. Amid this turmoil, the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, exemplified by the 1963 March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial where Dylan performed shortly before Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. This time reflected a dense clash between old norms and emerging ideals. While many took to the streets, Dylan channeled his beliefs into music that ignited a generation, and over the course of the following six decades, he would ultimately solidify his status as an iconic figure.

Artists throughout the years and across genres would continue to reprise his timeless songs and lyrics. Yet despite his influence, Dylan, refusing to be boxed in by artistic norms, somehow also manages to remain an enigma to the culture at large.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET AS BOB DYLAN

Chalamet admits he knew very little about Dylan other than his status as an American musical icon, but he was eager to tackle the role because he recognized a fascinating and layered human at the center of thisincredible artistic output.

“There are two versions of a Bob Dylan movie you could make,” Chalamet says. “You’ve got a version that is a behavioral master class on a guy who didn’t really make eye contact that often and the mystery that surrounded him, or you do something that could be disingenuous to his life and work, a greatest-hits compilation that sort of ignores the fact that his career wasn’t a straight trajectory. Jim was quick to walk a fine line between demystifying Bob and not doing a sycophantic thing.”

When COVID-19 struck in 2020, it was followed by a series of industry strikes that held production at bay. The delay amounted to a prolonged period of preparation for Chalamet that only further cemented his comfort with the role and his understanding of the man he was set to portray, along with his proficiency as a musician and singer. “Once I was in it, there was no coming back,” Chalamet says. “I was fully in the Church of Bob.”

Chalamet had his work cut out for him. For Mangold, there was no version of A COMPLETE UNKNOWN that didn’t feature actors doing their own singing.  The director says, “I didn’t want Timmy to disappear. It’s a performance. I wanted Timmy to bring who he is to Bob. If it becomes just a series of mannerisms and vocal impressions, there is no one really there.”

Chalamet dedicated himself to intense musical study and training for five years, which allowed him to not only hone in on the required skillset, but to explore Dylan’s songs and make them his own. Meanwhile, he watched hours of Dylan’s performances and interviews, paying close attention to small details like his posture and how that influenced his voice. Throughout the years of production delays, Chalamet mastered both the guitar and harmonica. His portrayal includes live performances of Dylan’s iconic songs, adding depth and authenticity to the film.

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN represents just a sliver of Bob Dylan’s life and times. But it’s a thematically resonant sliver that gives insight into how a star was born and how a culture shifted. Dylan’s controversial set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, which continues today, incinerated barriers between genres and generations. It popularized folk rock in an instant and marked a stark divide between yesterday and tomorrow.

His August release that year, Highway 61 Revisited, featuring anthem of the era “Like a Rolling Stone,” went on to be counted among the greatest albums of all time. In 2023, he released his 40th studio album, showing no signs of fading from the rock-and-roll culture he helped to create. Listen to the film soundtrack below. Order physical vinyl and CD copies here.

The film also stars Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.

Director – James Mangold

Screenplay – James Mangold and Jay Cocks

Production – Fred Berger p.g.a., James Mangold p.g.a., Alex Heineman p.g.a., Bob Bookman, Peter Jaysen, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, Timothée Chalamet

Heaven’s Door Distillery has created an exclusive “A Complete Unknown” cocktail-a drink that captures the bold, adventurous spirit of both the film and the whiskey itself. Crafted to celebrate the release of A Complete Unknown, this unique cocktail will be available at select events, premieres, and national screenings, allowing fans to sip and savor the fusion of art, music, and whiskey in every glass:

A Complete Unknown
2 oz ASCENSION KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
0.25 oz Dolin Génépy
1 oz Citrus Blend (1:1 lemon to lime)
1 oz Honey Syrup (2:1 honey to water)
2 dashes Orange Bitters

Shake all ingredients over ice. Strain into a fresh Collin’s glass over ice with a 4:1 sugar to citric acid blend half rim. Garnish with dehydrated lemon wheel.

This partnership between Heaven’s Door and A Complete Unknown isn’t just about whiskey. It’s about honouring those who dare to break through the boundaries of convention, who make their own rules, and who live life with an unapologetic, creative spirit. Just like Bob Dylan, Heaven’s Door stands at the intersection of rebellion and brilliance, offering a whiskey that captures the essence of pushing past the ordinary and embracing the unknown.

 

 

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.