TO borrow the title of a Bob Dylan song, it was a case of “one more cup of coffee” for the film director. (Or perhaps not, as you’ll see.) When James Mangold got stuck into making his biopic A

A Complete Unknown features a fictional character that was heavily inspired by Bob Dylan's actual muse, Suze Rotolo.

James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown follows the formative years of Bob Dylan from teen folk artist to rock star. The writer/director tells Screen about the film’s own five-year journey. James Mangold recalls being “instantly and insatiably hooked by the possibilities” when he found the project that would eventually become A Complete Unknown.

A Complete Unknown sees Chalamet portray legendary musician Bob Dylan. The film, set in 1961, follows the 19-year-old then-unknown musician as he arrives in New York City with his guitar and forges relationships with music icons on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates worldwide.

Notes: Jamal Woolard starred as Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.) in this biopic. After rising to the top of the rap music world, Biggie was shot to death at age 24 in 1997. Angela Bassett, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie also starred in the film. The soundtrack reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

In James Mangold's film A Complete Unknown, we get a cautious and reverent story of a musician who has always sought to transcend the limits imposed upon him.

On January 16, 2025, in the sumptuous surroundings of the Hotel Bristol in Paris, a press conference was held with Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro and director James Mangold to mark the eagerly-awaited release of Un Parfait Inconnu, a daring biopic devoted to Bob Dylan.

Actor Timothée Chalamet and director James Mangold share their love of Bob Dylan.

Film director James Mangold also tells  Esther McCarthy why he focused on that crucial early period in Dylan's career

The new Bob Dylan film "A Complete Unknown" from James Mangold blurs the lines between fact and fiction. And do you know what? That's what makes this movie fun.

A Complete Unknown article by Doug Collette, published on January 10, 2025 at All About Jazz. Find more Film Review articles

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