Updated On: 28 February, 2025 07:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson Thomas
James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” fluidly captures the relationship that evolves between art and fame and is fortified by sincere performances, simple story telling, and neat editing

A Complete Unknown movie review
James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” fluidly captures the relationship that evolves between art and fame and is fortified by sincere performances, simple story telling, and neat editing. The purposefully enigmatic Nobel prize winner with a six-decade career behind him, Bob Dylan, has always been a rebel without pause and this film, even though its about his formative years, encapsulates that quality in exemplary fashion. The lyrics are the heart and soul of Bob Dylan’s music and Mangold’s film makes it the highlight of Bob Dylan’s early years when he was finding his footing inspired by Woody Guthrie and with the legendary Pete Seeger’s unstinting support.
The film begins in New York, early 1960s. A 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and his eager wish to meet up with his inspiration, the ailing Woody Guthrie. His revolutionary talent was eventually destined to change the course of American music.