As a result of the movie, Dylan currently has three albums in the ITunes Top Twenty and five in the Top 100. The movie soundtrack is also in the Top Ten. I think a lot of people walked out of the movie theater wanting to investigate more of Bob Dylan’s music, such was how compelling was the movie and the power of the performances by the actors.
I used to put Dylan up there with The Beatles and Rolling Stones until I discovered his music post Blood on the Tracks, at which point he became undisputed Greatest of All Time. If you’ve been limited to 1975 then you haven’t even made it to the Rolling Thunder Revue, Desire, the Born Again trilogy (which once you get it it’s amazing), The Traveling Wilburys reinvigoration into Oh Mercy, the reimagining of the Delta Blues in the midst of Grunge, the masterpiece Time Out of Mind… and that just gets us into the late 90’s! Becoming a fanatic gets to be overwhelming, discovering unreleased tracks on bootleg series that were perplexingly not released on album tracks, and all the rest. It’s a true blessing to dive into his full career.
In 1965 I was 15yrs old when Like a Rolling Stone was released. I had no strong ties to Dylan's folk years and embraced the song along with all the other music and bands coming out then. I personally loved the song (especially the organ) and rocked out to it. It was only years later that I realized how many songs were written by Dylan that other bands sang. The Byrds sang Mr Tambourine Man but Dylan wrote it blew my mind. Timothee Chalamet captured the youthful, irreverent, snarky Dylan with incredible accuracy. Chalamet also captured Dylan's early singing voice evident at The Halloween Concert in NYC in 1964. Yes, Dylan was our voice back then and what was playing in the background was the Vietnam War. We saw our friends graduate high school, get drafted and never come back the same way, if at all. I remember seeing my friend, Dave, at a school dance and that Summer he was drafted and later that year he stepped on a land mine and came home in a box. Dylan's voice and songs captured the outrage of the youth of those times, but we were too young and immature to voice it except through some protests. His songs that we sang along to (and we knew were addressed to adults) like "The Times They are A-Changin" and Blowin in the Wind" helped to get us through. Dylan's lyrics also captured the heartbreak of our early relationships. It Ain't Me Babe" and "Don't think Twice" said it all. Many years later in my early 40's, I started to understand the depth of the words and listened to every song I could get my hands on (including some of the bootleg series), however, in a different capacity. I just saw the movie A Complete Unknown and loved it so much I saw it a second time. It brought tears to my eyes both times. I came out the theater feeling like a 15-16yr old again, instead of the 74 yr old that I somehow metamorphosed into.
Loved it! The movie captures the 60's in a way that is so believable I was able to re-live my early youth but what is even more captivating is that it opens a window for those who were not alive at that time to experience a piece of it. The acting was authentic and believable and the work and passion that each person put into their role shines through. I have always loved Dylan, saw him in concert in 1974 in Philadelphia PA and it was awesome. I enjoyed your review! Some people keep saying it does not depict who Dylan is, however it does. He has always been elusive and that has been part of his magic. He was able to share his brilliance with the world and somehow still protect himself.... not an easy feat!
Bob Dylan has grown on me over the years. I didn’t appreciate him when I was young. As I have aged, his songs have drawn me in more. Made me a bit more reflective on life. I saw him in concert a few years back - glad to have the privilege, but regretted not seeing him when he was younger and in better voice. This movie captured that missing experience for me a little bit. Grateful that it was made with care. Just incredible performances by the entire cast. I was born in 1961, so my life has literally spanned his entire career. My favorite scene is in the studio when he starts to record with the electric guitar. The energy of that scene just reverberates from the screen the paradigm shift in his career. All the musicians seem to just know they are sitting on a time bomb that is going to just explode…
I loved the movie. I've seen Dylan live maybe 8 or 10 times, first in 2003 and most recently in Nashville in 2022. So I've only ever heard his actual voice at its most wrecked, and yet.... it still works as a vehicle for conveying his words. I've never been to a show where there wasn't a moment when the genius came through and rearranged my thinking a bit. There has been so much said, written, and filmed about Dylan's reclusive, contrarian personality, but to me it's not hard to explain at all: he's protecting his creative workspace, which lives between his ears. And if it were possible for him to move through the world without continually having to contend with the pressure of other people's expectations, he'd be a lot less cranky.
I catch Dylan every time he performs in and around New England since the early 70’s. It’s always a challenge to guess which of his classics he’s reinterpreting and reconfiguring for his own sake and ultimately ours. The great film ends only 5 years into his career and it’s incredible that almost 60 years later he’s still a creative force of nature. As Leonard Cohen said about Dylan receiving the Nobel Prize “That’s like pinning a badge on Mt. Everest for being the tallest mountain”. Great heartfelt and honest vid my friend, enjoy your channel. 😊
My best friend Rick has an aunt who dated young Bob at Minnesota when he was working the dinkytown coffeehouses. Rick reported that the movie was a Bob Dylan tour de force. High praise.
I'm so happy that through this glorious movie, Bob is finally receiving the recognition of his genius that he so richly deserves. His work expands consciousness. Great review!
Great vid. His vision and rawness in those early days seems astounding ("seems" because I'm only 56). I'd heard about him going electric, but seeing the movie brought a bright light to one of the most historic Rock moments of all-time.
I loved the movie and saw it twice. It was a great snapshot into Dylan's early years and the NY folk scene. Anyone who thinks Chalamet is overrated needs to watch Call Me By Your Name. He is a deeply intelligent actor esp for his age. This movie did give me some insight into Bob Dylan during those 4 years. It doesn't promise to do more than that. Just a picture of the times.
I really love how you put it. It, this movie, doesn’t promise to do more. So often social media trolls are just out to bash something. Same with the purists. They insist this movie didn’t need to be done. Read this book or that book. Some people did need this movie. I was in the exact same camp as the reviewer. I have really tried to be a bigger fan. Just didn’t get it. When you know someone is a genius and not capturing the vibe. This movie was like a magical key to me. It let me into this world of Dylan fandom. I have been a music fan since the late 60’s early 70’s. I want to appreciate all the pioneers. Bob Dylan is one of these special people. I have been doing a deep dive on Bob since I saw the movie two days ago. Fascinating person.
I really love how you put it. It, this movie, doesn’t promise to do more. So often social media trolls are just out to bash something. Same with the purists. They insist this movie didn’t need to be done. Read this book or that book. Some people did need this movie. I was in the exact same camp as the reviewer. I have really tried to be a bigger fan. Just didn’t get it. When you know someone is a genius and not capturing the vibe. This movie was like a magical key to me. It let me into this world of Dylan fandom. I have been a music fan since the late 60’s early 70’s. I want to appreciate all the pioneers. Bob Dylan is one of these special people. I have been doing a deep dive on Bob since I saw the movie two days ago. Fascinating person.
Watching what you said about seeing it again I’m going again tomorrow. And I made a playlist of all of his music, which is the only thing I’m listening to right now. It feels great, especially during these times.
I'm glad you have joined the club and I admire you for your honestly. How great is it when you find you have much more amazing music to feel. Your video was quite emotional for me, felt happy for you. Thanks JR
Just got home from seeing this. I was so excited and was not disappointed. I agree that the casting was perfect… especially Timothee! I was wearing out my old Dylan vinyl albums in the early 80’s but it’s been a while so I was thrilled to hear songs that I forgot about. I really want to see this a second time. Felt like I was seeing BD playing live!
I saw the movie last weekend, and I loved every one of the 140 minutes of it! Everything this review says about it is nearly word for word what I'm telling all my friends.
LOVED the movie. And I loved this review! I think some people miss the clue in the title itself: A Complete Unknown. As you pointed out, Dylan is absolutely unknowable. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you from France for your very interesting review. I have discoverd the Bob Dylan music through Joan Baez when I was ten. I was at the time a little bit disturbed by his singing voice. However we had the chance, that a French artist recorded all the most important songs translated in French, long before I learnt to speak english, and it gave me a strong insight of what it was all about. A few years ago, now retired I immersed myself in Bob Dylan’s work, thanks to the movies edited by Scorcese, and I have to say, this is a blast. So I am glad to hear you explain how "A Complete Unknown" opened a door for you in this unbelievable realm and I can’t wait till january 29th, the this movie reach french theaters. 🕊💙
I am an American 7 years younger than Bob living in France. I also worship at the church of France. So far have succeed in introducing only 1 Frenchman to the church of Dylan. To this day I ask myself "Where do these wonderful words come from?" Thank for very much giving me the date I have been trying hard to find; Jan 29.
Completely agree. I loved a few songs pre 1990 and was reintroduced to him with Time Out Of Mind but a visceral connection to his wider early work escaped me...until this fantastic film and exceptional performances. To re-live the circumstances that helped to further forge this tour de force of a chameleon and the painful transformation that was necessary was magical journey. One important aspect to understand about Dylan is exemplified by the opening and closing scenes: Dylan is leaving some place and going someplace new...towards a bigger horizon.
Love it. I'm 56 and have known about Bob Dylan my entire life. This movie gave me a better appreciation for him as an artist and that's what he is. I grew up listening to hair metal but have become wiser and now appreciate artists like Dylan, Cash, Cobain, Joni, and MJK more. These people were true rock stars. They create art that can/has to be appreciated and interpreted in various ways.
I totally agree with the YTuber here. Was never a big fan but listened to him and even saw him a couple times with other people who were big fans. After seeing this movie, I can't get enough of him. I'm sure there will be diehards that will think it doesn't match up to who he was but the people in this movie were awesome. Spent a lot of time learning the character. Musi was great and sounded awesome!!
I'm a diehard and I love this film. I've been a fan since I was 13. All of the actors were great in their roles. James Mangold and the entire cast deserve an Oscar. It took 5 years to produce.
I started watching your channel as a Dylan fan when you posted the video of blonde on blonde. I appreciated your way of articulating your thoughts on music and have watched just about everything since. I found it frustrating that Dylan wasn’t clicking with you, but understood all your reasoning. Whenever you bring him up, I’m hoping for something to click and when this film was announced I’ve been hoping it would be the thing to put it in perspective for others too. Dylan aside, love the channel.
I have been a fan of Dylan since the early 60's. It is hard explain how Dylan shifted the culture with his intense lyrics he made you think. Made you think about EVERYTHING, the bs the world throws at you, your own stupid bs. His writing was an epiphany for that generation of those who followed him. I saw the movie and I loved it. I know alot about Dylan so I could see where there was some "time management" and not "spot on" history, but they had to get the touchstones in there. It did a pretty good job of giving you the sense of the times. My sister-in-law grew up in NYC and at that time was hanging around the village, she was more political, so didn't do the clubs, but she said the Greenwich VIllage was accurate. And for those that attest Dylan can't sing, try singing along EXACTLY with him, his cadence and inflections are hard to emulate, I commend Timothee's portrayal. He said he didn't want to do an imitation, but a feel for Dylan, which I think he was successful at achieving. Also, try to think of Dylan as less of a singer but more of a poet reciting words to music. He was legit the first rapper - Subterranean Homesick Blues. Nice review. Even though I own almost every Dylan album (originals) the one I can listen to anytime is Blood on the Tracks. For me listening to him is really mood dependent, he can be acidic, sweet, hilarious, and angry, twisting words into a soup of emotion. Dammit, I have and always will love Bob Dylan. The great thing about this movie, younger generations might begin to understand what this man is all about and what he has given to music, poetry and the culture and hopefully listen to him.
I agree with your assessment, especially with Dylan as a vocalist throughout his entire catalog his vocals and styles have changed more than any vocalist in history. For being "a guy who can't sing" as some would say, he's one the most imitated vocalists in Rock. Time Out Of Mind is an album I probably listen to the most over the last 10 years, and it sounds nothing like Dylan in any respect except the song writing. My tastes are more melancholy and complicated so Dylan is everything I like. I grew up listening to Hillbilly, Folk, early Blues, Country including Honky Tonk from birth so my ears are accustomed to a more feral sound in music, and I prefer it because of that. When The Stones and Byrds started to explore The Bakersfield Sound and Dylan did as well that was right up my lane. Neil Young has that feral sound as well and that's why he is also one of my favorites. I don't think people realize that Dylan is the biggest rainmaker in Rock. Only Fats Domino and his guitar player Papoose Nelson, Chuck Berry and Dick Dale are on Dylan's level as the biggest rainmakers in Rock. Young's ditch trilogy along with Zuma and Rust Never Sleeps are probably the last feral Rock albums made.
Right on! Getting this perspective on Bob Dylan is absolutely mind blowing! It's especially relevant in a world where we are being constantly boxed in by many forces including technology, AI and the "culture war".
I’ve always loved Dylan and I was blown away by this movie! Now I am in a trance of nostalgia and going back over all of his music…this movie is a gem and such a catalyst to the genius Of Bob Dylan and Timothee Chalamet’s performance was a tour de force! As was the entire cast and director…Bravo, days after seeing it I am still under its spell! ❤🎶🎬
I guessed that "Blood on the Tracks" might speak to your heart, even before you mentioned it ... I find "New Morning" to be quite an emotional experience, in parts at least. As well as "Oh Mercy" and especially "Time Out of Mind", from the perspective of an older Bob (and older me!). I wish you much joy and revelation on your Dylan journey!
The way you now hear Bob Dylan is the way I now hear Genesis and the Grateful Dead. I have to admit- discovering the years with Peter Gabriel and/ or Steve Hackett, I could never hear the years of them as a trio the same way again. I still love many of the songs on those Collins/ Banks/ Rutherford albums. I also remember realizing I really like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kansas in a very similar way. I discovered I like Bob Dylan when I was 15. Some of the lyrics made me feel more grown up! To me, the decision to go electric was like Dorothy opening the door in The Wizard Of Oz and seeing lots of different colors for the 1st time! Oh yeah, I can’t wait to see the movie which I’m sure I will! And of course, another great video, TJ! Thanks for sharing and happy New Year!
Really enjoyed this episode. You captured my feelings about Dylan’s music as well. I tend to be attracted to rhythm and melody over lyrics and for that reason wasn’t immediately attracted to his music. I found much of it, other than the hits, laborious. The movie put the music in greater context and helped me appreciate the lyrics more.
This is so enlightening. Thanks and props for being open to Dylan. I watched the movie and you can't help but love the acting and music. But I thought, knowing the stories as Dylan fans do, the movie had ZERO tension, a blip for a story arc. Really glad I came across your video for another perspective. Great job.
Great observations/review. I’ve seen the movie twice, it was that good. I think the name of the movie, A Complete Unknown, is a double meaning … not just a reference from the iconic song, Like a Rolling Stone, but also to the enigmatic and mysterious quality of Bob Dylan … even those closest to him could not figure him out or get to know much about him. There was that one scene from the movie where his girlfriend, Sylvie, is exasperated with him that she doesn’t know much of anything about him. The movie also inspired me to delve deeper into the early period of Dylan’s catalogue. Chalamet and the rest of the cast were fabulous in their portrayals and performances. Thanks for the review.
You may want to read Suze Rotolo, "A Free Wheelin Time"--a memoir of her time with Dylan before he became known and wrote some of his most iconic songs. Suze was Dylan's muse at the time -- a fact Dylan would likely acknowledge.
Thank you. I hope others have similar experiences. When people can get behind the the myths, the press, and and the media curtains, and just experience the man and his art directly without prejudgment, I think they sometimes discover an insightful and often inspirational way of looking at the world that once seen simply can't be unseen.
So great that you gained a deeper appreciation for the music through this movie. I've been hoping that will happen for people who were never that enamoured with Dylan.
This movie is a must see. I was a casual Bob Dylan fan until this year. I started to listen more, and then I saw the film, I'm hooked. Dylan is a genius.
Felt the same way as The Beach Boys most notably Brian Wilson. I never got into them for the longest time but a couple years ago I listened to God Knows played by various artists on BBC 1 and it hit me how great of a songwriter Wilson truly is. I then saw Love & Mercy and I realized he truly was a troubled modern beautiful artist. And Dylan's music can take a similar process. As we grow as people spmdo our taste in music.
There were times in the movie, where Tim became Bob, but didn't try to imitate him with the typical twang. It also did a great job of showing mentors of Bob and how some were challenged by his desire to evolve musically and his personality. The scene after a performance where he was sitting inside his motel room, the look matched his Blood on the Tracks album cover. Very good direction of this movie.
Yes! Especially the eyes in so many moments. My mom and I talked about this with Walk the Line and Ray - how you almost forgot you were watching an actor. I think Chalamet may have surpassed those performances. Especially considering the fact he sang live!
Great review. And thanks for sharing your “Dylan journey” with us. I saw the movie and loved it. One of my top three films of the year. I plan on going to see it at least once more before it leaves the theater. It really is a theatrical experience. I have loved much of Dylan’s music over the years. And this movie made me love it even more. Especially HIGHWAY and BLONDE (the latter is my favorite Dylan album).
I really enjoyed listening to your thoughts about Dylan and the movie. He has long been my favorite artist, hands-down. And my very favorite Dylan album is Blood on the Tracks. Which incidentally was the first Dylan album that I was introduced to when I was 15. I’m always pleased to know that this album has touched others as well. I’m planning to see the movie next week. I’m glad that it has encouraged you to delve more into his music.
Completely agree! I watched this film as a Pete Seeger fan, and I didn’t expect to care much for Dylan by the end. In many ways I didn’t - his affairs and personal dramas continue to bore me. But I do find myself listening to his music more than before, and I feel a new appreciation of the effort he put in, even if he isn’t my favorite folk artist of the era
What you say makes sense. The music is more exciting when you see it in its real context (which the movie convincingly recreates), not in that of Top 40, radio, hi-fi and stereo music entertainment. He was a cultural, artistic A-bomb at the moment in time that is captured in the movie. He changed almost everything, uncovering a new, unsuspected universe of possibilities in popular song expression. In just four years he set the music world spinning with sounds, phrasing, lyrics and attitudes, reflections and emotions that were equally preposterous and exciting. I would think that the performance of "I Was Young When I Left Home" in the film would win the hearts of at least a few that didn't know they could appreciate Bob Dylan music. The movie's rendition of "Maggie's Farm" at Newport 1965 does convey Dylan's feat of becoming an absolute master of each completely new musical genre that he himself created out of his successive unique musical/lyrical syntheses between 1961 and 1965. Did you forget to mention Elle Fanning, because she didn't play the role of a performer? Her performance was very good, as good as any in the film (but I can see how this doesn't relate to your getting a new take on Bob Dylan's music).
Growing into my teens when Bob Dylan started his folk singing career, I felt the full impact of his music. Songs like “With God On Your Side” and “It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding” Dylan literally forced his listeners to confront the reality of their lives and politics honestly. We were trained in the ways of honesty and expected it from our politicians. The threat of nuclear war was part of our reality. Life was known to be too important to tolerate cheats and liars. This is why the 60’s were revolutionary. Dylan’s songs were foundational to that revolution. Now is a good time to recapture that cultural understanding. We need it.
I liked listening to your take on this. I started listening to radio late in 1966. Over the years I heard "Like a Rolling Stone and "Rainy Day Women" a few times, played as oldies. I heard "Lay Lady Lay" frequently in 1969. I was more of a Beatles and blues fan. I loved George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" and one of my favorite songs on it was "If Not for You", which I noted was a Dylan composition. Then in late 1971 or early 1972 I got the "Concert for Bangla Desh" album with one side featuring Dylan, and also in Rolling Stone magazine was reading lengthy excerpts of Anthony Scaduto's biography. I was intrigued. When in May 1972 I got my final paycheck from a brief time in the US Air Force I went to the record store, bought all his albums, and started listening to them in order. I was hooked and have been a fan of his ever since (although not of every single thing that he has done). I saw the film Christmas Day and liked it a lot. I enjoyed spotting the differences between the events of the film and the events as they actually happened. For instance Woody Guthrie in 1961 was able to spend a lot of time staying with friends (not just Pete Seeger) in East Orange, New Jersey and that's usually where Bob visited him. But that stuff didn't bother me. If this was a documentary, I'd say "They got it wrong". But I recognized this is a biopic - trying to get to the essence of what happened in a few busy years into a little over two hours; compressing, simplifying, eliminating or combining people or incidents, re-arranging the chronology somewhat. I intend to see it again when it comes to the theater that's close to me.
You summed up my experience exactly. Other than a couple hits, I was mostly thankful that the Byrds covered some pivotal Dylan tunes. But somehow the film gave me a context to appreciate the artistry as well as the surliness stemming from an audience and peer group who felt like their adoration entitled them to feel owed and place expectation to the point of feeling betrayed when he wasn't willing to be what they demanded. For all the talk of "freedom" in the folk movement, there sure was a lot of dogma. I love the scene in the car with Pete Seeger when Bob turns on the radio to Little Richard and casually defends the music against Pete's polite derision. Though brief, to me it is pivotal to understanding the arc of the movie, and in turn the reality behind Bob Dylan "going electric." Going and looking at and listening to period interviews after I saw the film, it is clear that even early on in his folk success Bob is correcting people when they want to make him their personal folk amulet and cast him in a role he didn't audition for.
Welcome to the Bob Dylan club! 😊 I joined it, not from those seminal Bob Dylan albums you mentioned, but from his 1983 "Infidels" album. As that was the year I really delved into the music mainstream, that's the album of his I first saw music videos of, and heard tracks from on my local rock radio station. Then, between 1984 and 1986, I got all of those seminal Bob Dylan albums. I put Bob Dylan, as a songwriter, right up there with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, when they were in The Beatles. The only songwriter in the world, who I think rivaled them at that time. I guess the main purpose of a well-made biopic, is to get new fans for the music artist depicted. And this "A Complete Unknown" biopic has obviously done its job. Think how many new fans Queen must have gotten, after the "Bohemian Rhapsody" biopic. I'm glad you're finally hearing what the Bob Dylan fans have heard for decades. And don't forget, Bob Dylan's best works are not only found on his albums. There are many great songs which were left off his original albums, some even better than the ones on the album itself. These can mostly be found on his "Bootleg Series" and "50th Anniversary Collection" sets.
I had a similar situation with Dylan music couldn't find a entry point to dive into his universe while have friends gushing over his work. I started think about his work after watching the we are the world documentary and what stage he was in his life back then and how he felt like an alien to the the surrounding he was in while still carrying this great sense of reverence. I knew of his career in micro fragments like his song the Hurricane but did know or understand the genesis story around him. I asked chat gbt which Dylan album captured my profile and it said Time out of mind which surprised me because it was made in 1997 and isn't talked about in the same way as his 60s album. But the gbt suggestion was spot on as I connected with the album which makes sense as I learnt that Dylan wanted to make an album in the style of Beck who I'm a big fan of. Once I found the entry point I wanted to find out more about his comeback period as well as his beginning so the no direction home documentary was brilliant. So I'm more interested in watching the film now and listening to those 60s,70s albums
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Bob Dylan and Joan Baez sing "It Aint Me Babe" at the Newport Folk Festival. Joan give Bob the finger and tells him to "Shut the fuck up and sing." Immediately thereafter, the two show great chemistry on stage together, and nail the song. His girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning) tearfully recognizes that she could never have that musical connection with Bob and decides to go home. Perhaps the scene was contrived but the music is spot on.
enjoyed the review - as a big Dylan fan, I can't wait until the movie opens here in Japan in February. The history teacher in me has to point out that you mention some of the tensions playing out in the time line of the film, which ends in 1965, but the assassination of MLK didn't happen until April of 1968.
Excellent : thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for the movie and resulting appreciation of the man’s music. I loved the movie. I found it efficient in telling the story. We get so much with little details! I returned to FreeWheeling. Been a long time since I listened to it. At the time I bought Highway 61, his first LP, and Bringing it all Back Home. I agree with you on Blonde on Blonde….some great songs but not my favorite LP. Blood is as good as the early stuff.
Yes, when I walked into a room aged 16, Freewheelin and Bob Dylan LPs spoke to me particularly Don't Think Twice. Over the years I bought each LP but several did not grab me .. Nashville Skyline took awhile... many don't like his voice but did get a but monotonous over the years. I could see why people did not get him. He was ahead of his time, he was unique in so many ways. I could go on forever.
Everyone should go listen to Mr. Dave Van Ronk if you're in the same boat as this guy and just starting to understand Dylan. Van Ronk was a big influence and teacher to Bobby and a premier folk-blues artist.
I’ve seen the movie twice now, second time I took my music aficionado friends. We’re all revisiting Dylan’s work now. That movie was made for people who understand music. A truly unique and powerful film.
Great movie about young Bob. I 1st saw bob when I was 10 years old we went to his uncle store in Hibbing minn. He was stocking shoe shelves and I think he was 17 or 18 his uncle was yelling at him leather jacket boots and hair slicked back he smiled AR me and ran out the back . next Rome I seen him he was on stage singing!
I have felt about Bob Dylan the way you do now since I was a teenager, so welcome to our club. I just saw the movie for the second time this morning. I remember in the 70's I was a big Elton John fan, until I discovered Dylan. Then, overnight, it was: 'Elton who?'
I think what is not fully understood is exactly what Bob Dylan represented at that time. His combination of folk, rock and his poetic genius, was groundbreaking in the sense that he touched the soul of the baby boomers generation. In essence, he became the spokes person of that generation.
When i was a kid, Lay Lady Lay was a hit on the radio. It would come on our local rock station, and i would wonder why it was on the radio. But, I would listen to it, and can still hear it playing out of the speaker in moms car.
I just saw this last night. I was worried I wouldn't like it, but it was what I was expecting. It was mostly a typical biopic with good performance. If someone is looking for a complete story, no direction home is the way to go
I have argued that this is less a biopic than it is a drama built around the specific event of Dylan going electric. Maggies Farm is actually a cryptic reference to the microphones Dylan was using to record acoustic music.
Great to hear that you have a new appreciation of Dylan’s music. As good as this movie is, the most important thing is that “A Complete Unknown “ will introduce a new generation to Dylan’s music and genius.
The most helpful insight I got about Dylan was when he said "I go where the music goes." Can the two really be separated? His Nobel Prize speech also offers a great deal of insight and is worth reading. He speaks about growing up in Minnesota and the literature that inspired his song writing.
Saw it . The movie was a roller coaster ride . I liked the organic and the electric . I sympathized with the tension . There was a sense of Dylan still a kid . ( A Holden Caulfield ) So we're we .
The film is great even for dedicated Dylan fans like myself. Glad it opened up America's all-time greatest songwriter for you. I would suggest that anyone else reading who feels like the OP in their inability to penetrate Bob, just start with Freewheelin' in his oeuvre. Entirely approachable material and some of his greatest tunes. Moving basically chronologically through Bob is a valid approach to his catalog as you'll experience his genesis as an artist.
I was the complete opposite to you - I can't remember ever NOT liking Dylan, though I leaned more to his Beat Symbolism of the mid-60s than his early hillbilly folk singer day, or to his protest stuff. I've seen him twice, in the 90s and 2000s. In fact, I was worried than the film would simplify his life and music too much. But the tight time frame, with a skip in the middle, really worked. The Chalemet really caught the elusive, mask-wearing aspect of the early Dylan. Three thumbs up.
Big fan here of Dylan. I really enjoyed that with the movie. some scenes felt like I was there in the room while he was creating some of his masterpieces. Loved the movie.
I hear you. Big Beatles fan as well..... I really do like most of Dylan's '60's catalog, but I'm not as crazy about most of his catalog after that. He was definitely ahead of his time. He transformed the way (maturity... Especially lyrically) songs were written, after. That's one reason he's not as hard hitting in later years for later generations, as he was at the time.
Saw the movie, the day it opened. Leaving Dylan "enigmatic" reminds me of Roger Ebert's comment about "2001, A Space Odyssey" He wasn't sure he liked how it dragged along, then he realized that "space is boring"...Like discovering the essence isn't necessarily what you want or like, but what it represents.
Another thing to keep in mind is there are multiple Bob Dylan songs recorded by other artists from the 60s that are fondly remembered in similar ways to Beatles songs. I think that is largely because of how the songs were performed and recorded by the other groups. All Along the Watchtower, Mr. Tambourine Man, It Ain't Me Babe, and The Mighty Quinn are examples. The same song recorded in the folk style doesn't have as wide of appeal. Even people that are big fans of Dylan usually refer to his lyrics more than how he performs the songs.
Trying to figure out who Bob Dylan is and what makes him tick, is a fool's errand. I got hooked on Dylan in 1976 when my brother brought home "Desire". I would, over the next 50 years drift away from Dylan and listen to something else for a while but always find myself back to Dylan. The volume of music is amazing. He seems to change every five years or so and then changes back. You can pick an album from every decade that he has recorded and find a gem. I haven't seen the film yet and am not in a rush. I'll watch some day and until then I'll just listen and enjoy.
I have to watch this movie. Bob Dylan is a musician that I would always change on the radio station whenever he came on because I hated his singing. It was like nails on a blackboard. I don’t care how great the lyrics are, if all you are thinking about listening to his songs, is how painful it is, that’s not good. So I hope learning more about him will make me appreciate him more.
Well bro I can’t stand 80s music but the 90s wow the rock and alternative is sooo goood! I love this Dylan Movie I really was amazed and I see Dylan as singular! A young artist throwing himself to the universe to become Bob Dylan and do it his way!
As a major Dylan fan I found myself questioning scene after scene as in "that never happened!". Now that I got that out of my system I look forward to seeing it again as a "movie" not a documentary.
I agree. This biopic accomplished the one thing that most don't -- it made me want to go listen to Dylan. You are not alone.
As a result of the movie, Dylan currently has three albums in the ITunes Top Twenty and five in the Top 100. The movie soundtrack is also in the Top Ten. I think a lot of people walked out of the movie theater wanting to investigate more of Bob Dylan’s music, such was how compelling was the movie and the power of the performances by the actors.
I totally agree.
Gratefully yes!
I used to put Dylan up there with The Beatles and Rolling Stones until I discovered his music post Blood on the Tracks, at which point he became undisputed Greatest of All Time. If you’ve been limited to 1975 then you haven’t even made it to the Rolling Thunder Revue, Desire, the Born Again trilogy (which once you get it it’s amazing), The Traveling Wilburys reinvigoration into Oh Mercy, the reimagining of the Delta Blues in the midst of Grunge, the masterpiece Time Out of Mind… and that just gets us into the late 90’s! Becoming a fanatic gets to be overwhelming, discovering unreleased tracks on bootleg series that were perplexingly not released on album tracks, and all the rest. It’s a true blessing to dive into his full career.
Man, I was sold the moment I heard Blonde on Blonde… that was a revelation… a mystical experience
In 1965 I was 15yrs old when Like a Rolling Stone was released. I had no strong ties to Dylan's folk years and embraced the song along with all the other music and bands coming out then. I personally loved the song (especially the organ) and rocked out to it. It was only years later that I realized how many songs were written by Dylan that other bands sang. The Byrds sang Mr Tambourine Man but Dylan wrote it blew my mind. Timothee Chalamet captured the youthful, irreverent, snarky Dylan with incredible accuracy. Chalamet also captured Dylan's early singing voice evident at The Halloween Concert in NYC in 1964. Yes, Dylan was our voice back then and what was playing in the background was the Vietnam War. We saw our friends graduate high school, get drafted and never come back the same way, if at all. I remember seeing my friend, Dave, at a school dance and that Summer he was drafted and later that year he stepped on a land mine and came home in a box. Dylan's voice and songs captured the outrage of the youth of those times, but we were too young and immature to voice it except through some protests. His songs that we sang along to (and we knew were addressed to adults) like "The Times They are A-Changin" and Blowin in the Wind" helped to get us through. Dylan's lyrics also captured the heartbreak of our early relationships. It Ain't Me Babe" and "Don't think Twice" said it all. Many years later in my early 40's, I started to understand the depth of the words and listened to every song I could get my hands on (including some of the bootleg series), however, in a different capacity. I just saw the movie A Complete Unknown and loved it so much I saw it a second time. It brought tears to my eyes both times. I came out the theater feeling like a 15-16yr old again, instead of the 74 yr old that I somehow metamorphosed into.
Loved it! The movie captures the 60's in a way that is so believable I was able to re-live my early youth but what is even more captivating is that it opens a window for those who were not alive at that time to experience a piece of it. The acting was authentic and believable and the work and passion that each person put into their role shines through. I have always loved Dylan, saw him in concert in 1974 in Philadelphia PA and it was awesome. I enjoyed your review! Some people keep saying it does not depict who Dylan is, however it does. He has always been elusive and that has been part of his magic. He was able to share his brilliance with the world and somehow still protect himself.... not an easy feat!
Dylan himself approved it, so...for what that's worth! 😂
I have been a Dylan fan since I was 17, he might not hit you imedietely but once he does, it's a beautiful thing to witness.
damn, you captured it perfectly
Bob Dylan has grown on me over the years. I didn’t appreciate him when I was young. As I have aged, his songs have drawn me in more. Made me a bit more reflective on life. I saw him in concert a few years back - glad to have the privilege, but regretted not seeing him when he was younger and in better voice. This movie captured that missing experience for me a little bit. Grateful that it was made with care. Just incredible performances by the entire cast. I was born in 1961, so my life has literally spanned his entire career. My favorite scene is in the studio when he starts to record with the electric guitar. The energy of that scene just reverberates from the screen the paradigm shift in his career. All the musicians seem to just know they are sitting on a time bomb that is going to just explode…
I loved the movie. I've seen Dylan live maybe 8 or 10 times, first in 2003 and most recently in Nashville in 2022. So I've only ever heard his actual voice at its most wrecked, and yet.... it still works as a vehicle for conveying his words. I've never been to a show where there wasn't a moment when the genius came through and rearranged my thinking a bit. There has been so much said, written, and filmed about Dylan's reclusive, contrarian personality, but to me it's not hard to explain at all: he's protecting his creative workspace, which lives between his ears. And if it were possible for him to move through the world without continually having to contend with the pressure of other people's expectations, he'd be a lot less cranky.
I catch Dylan every time he performs in and around New England since the early 70’s. It’s always a challenge to guess which of his classics he’s reinterpreting and reconfiguring for his own sake and ultimately ours. The great film ends only 5 years into his career and it’s incredible that almost 60 years later he’s still a creative force of nature. As Leonard Cohen said about Dylan receiving the Nobel Prize “That’s like pinning a badge on Mt. Everest for being the tallest mountain”. Great heartfelt and honest vid my friend, enjoy your channel. 😊
I love this film. Chalamet nailed it. This is my favorite review so far. Love your honesty about your journey to Bob.
My best friend Rick has an aunt who dated young Bob at Minnesota when he was working the dinkytown coffeehouses. Rick reported that the movie was a Bob Dylan tour de force. High praise.
I'm so happy that through this glorious movie, Bob is finally receiving the recognition of his genius that he so richly deserves. His work expands consciousness. Great review!
Great vid. His vision and rawness in those early days seems astounding ("seems" because I'm only 56). I'd heard about him going electric, but seeing the movie brought a bright light to one of the most historic Rock moments of all-time.
I loved the movie and saw it twice. It was a great snapshot into Dylan's early years and the NY folk scene. Anyone who thinks Chalamet is overrated needs to watch Call Me By Your Name. He is a deeply intelligent actor esp for his age. This movie did give me some insight into Bob Dylan during those 4 years. It doesn't promise to do more than that. Just a picture of the times.
Going to matinee tomorrow to see 2nd time
I really love how you put it. It, this movie, doesn’t promise to do more. So often social media trolls are just out to bash something. Same with the purists. They insist this movie didn’t need to be done. Read this book or that book. Some people did need this movie.
I was in the exact same camp as the reviewer. I have really tried to be a bigger fan. Just didn’t get it. When you know someone is a genius and not capturing the vibe. This movie was like a magical key to me. It let me into this world of Dylan fandom. I have been a music fan since the late 60’s early 70’s. I want to appreciate all the pioneers. Bob Dylan is one of these special people.
I have been doing a deep dive on Bob since I saw the movie two days ago. Fascinating person.
I really love how you put it. It, this movie, doesn’t promise to do more. So often social media trolls are just out to bash something. Same with the purists. They insist this movie didn’t need to be done. Read this book or that book. Some people did need this movie.
I was in the exact same camp as the reviewer. I have really tried to be a bigger fan. Just didn’t get it. When you know someone is a genius and not capturing the vibe. This movie was like a magical key to me. It let me into this world of Dylan fandom. I have been a music fan since the late 60’s early 70’s. I want to appreciate all the pioneers. Bob Dylan is one of these special people.
I have been doing a deep dive on Bob since I saw the movie two days ago. Fascinating person.
Right I agree. Some people did need this and it’s prompting me to want to read the book.
Watching what you said about seeing it again I’m going again tomorrow. And I made a playlist of all of his music, which is the only thing I’m listening to right now. It feels great, especially during these times.
I'm glad you have joined the club and I admire you for your honestly. How great is it when you find you have much more amazing music to feel. Your video was quite emotional for me, felt happy for you. Thanks JR
Just got home from seeing this. I was so excited and was not disappointed. I agree that the casting was perfect… especially Timothee! I was wearing out my old Dylan vinyl albums in the early 80’s but it’s been a while so I was thrilled to hear songs that I forgot about. I really want to see this a second time. Felt like I was seeing BD playing live!
I saw the movie last weekend, and I loved every one of the 140 minutes of it! Everything this review says about it is nearly word for word what I'm telling all my friends.
LOVED the movie. And I loved this review! I think some people miss the clue in the title itself: A Complete Unknown. As you pointed out, Dylan is absolutely unknowable. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you from France for your very interesting review. I have discoverd the Bob Dylan music through Joan Baez when I was ten. I was at the time a little bit disturbed by his singing voice. However we had the chance, that a French artist recorded all the most important songs translated in French, long before I learnt to speak english, and it gave me a strong insight of what it was all about. A few years ago, now retired I immersed myself in Bob Dylan’s work, thanks to the movies edited by Scorcese, and I have to say, this is a blast. So I am glad to hear you explain how "A Complete Unknown" opened a door for you in this unbelievable realm and I can’t wait till january 29th, the this movie reach french theaters. 🕊💙
I am an American 7 years younger than Bob living in France. I also worship at the church of France. So far have succeed in introducing only 1 Frenchman to the church of Dylan. To this day I ask myself "Where do these wonderful words come from?" Thank for very much giving me the date I have been trying hard to find; Jan 29.
No Direction Home directed by Martin Scorsese is fantastic. 🕺😎
Completely agree. I loved a few songs pre 1990 and was reintroduced to him with Time Out Of Mind but a visceral connection to his wider early work escaped me...until this fantastic film and exceptional performances.
To re-live the circumstances that helped to further forge this tour de force of a chameleon and the painful transformation that was necessary was magical journey.
One important aspect to understand about Dylan is exemplified by the opening and closing scenes: Dylan is leaving some place and going someplace new...towards a bigger horizon.
Love it. I'm 56 and have known about Bob Dylan my entire life. This movie gave me a better appreciation for him as an artist and that's what he is. I grew up listening to hair metal but have become wiser and now appreciate artists like Dylan, Cash, Cobain, Joni, and MJK more. These people were true rock stars. They create art that can/has to be appreciated and interpreted in various ways.
I totally agree with the YTuber here. Was never a big fan but listened to him and even saw him a couple times with other people who were big fans. After seeing this movie, I can't get enough of him. I'm sure there will be diehards that will think it doesn't match up to who he was but the people in this movie were awesome. Spent a lot of time learning the character. Musi was great and sounded awesome!!
I'm a diehard and I love this film. I've been a fan since I was 13. All of the actors were great in their roles. James Mangold and the entire cast deserve an Oscar. It took 5 years to produce.
I started watching your channel as a Dylan fan when you posted the video of blonde on blonde. I appreciated your way of articulating your thoughts on music and have watched just about everything since. I found it frustrating that Dylan wasn’t clicking with you, but understood all your reasoning. Whenever you bring him up, I’m hoping for something to click and when this film was announced I’ve been hoping it would be the thing to put it in perspective for others too. Dylan aside, love the channel.
I have been a fan of Dylan since the early 60's. It is hard explain how Dylan shifted the culture with his intense lyrics he made you think. Made you think about EVERYTHING, the bs the world throws at you, your own stupid bs. His writing was an epiphany for that generation of those who followed him.
I saw the movie and I loved it. I know alot about Dylan so I could see where there was some "time management" and not "spot on" history, but they had to get the touchstones in there. It did a pretty good job of giving you the sense of the times. My sister-in-law grew up in NYC and at that time was hanging around the village, she was more political, so didn't do the clubs, but she said the Greenwich VIllage was accurate.
And for those that attest Dylan can't sing, try singing along EXACTLY with him, his cadence and inflections are hard to emulate, I commend Timothee's portrayal. He said he didn't want to do an imitation, but a feel for Dylan, which I think he was successful at achieving. Also, try to think of Dylan as less of a singer but more of a poet reciting words to music. He was legit the first rapper - Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Nice review. Even though I own almost every Dylan album (originals) the one I can listen to anytime is Blood on the Tracks. For me listening to him is really mood dependent, he can be acidic, sweet, hilarious, and angry, twisting words into a soup of emotion. Dammit, I have and always will love Bob Dylan.
The great thing about this movie, younger generations might begin to understand what this man is all about and what he has given to music, poetry and the culture and hopefully listen to him.
I agree with your assessment, especially with Dylan as a vocalist throughout his entire catalog his vocals and styles have changed more than any vocalist in history. For being "a guy who can't sing" as some would say, he's one the most imitated vocalists in Rock. Time Out Of Mind is an album I probably listen to the most over the last 10 years, and it sounds nothing like Dylan in any respect except the song writing. My tastes are more melancholy and complicated so Dylan is everything I like. I grew up listening to Hillbilly, Folk, early Blues, Country including Honky Tonk from birth so my ears are accustomed to a more feral sound in music, and I prefer it because of that. When The Stones and Byrds started to explore The Bakersfield Sound and Dylan did as well that was right up my lane. Neil Young has that feral sound as well and that's why he is also one of my favorites. I don't think people realize that Dylan is the biggest rainmaker in Rock. Only Fats Domino and his guitar player Papoose Nelson, Chuck Berry and Dick Dale are on Dylan's level as the biggest rainmakers in Rock. Young's ditch trilogy along with Zuma and Rust Never Sleeps are probably the last feral Rock albums made.
@@Lexwell_Lavers I wonder how accessible Dylan is with a generation brought up on pitch correction, auto tune and 440 bpm. LOL
Excellent comments….I guess that means I agree with you.
As a singer, trying to learn some of his vocals is wild. He's fascinating on so many levels.
Right on! Getting this perspective on Bob Dylan is absolutely mind blowing! It's especially relevant in a world where we are being constantly boxed in by many forces including technology, AI and the "culture war".
I’ve always loved Dylan and I was blown away by this movie! Now I am in a trance of nostalgia and going back over all of his music…this movie is a gem and such a catalyst to the genius Of Bob Dylan and Timothee Chalamet’s performance was a tour de force! As was the entire cast and director…Bravo, days after seeing it I am still under its spell! ❤🎶🎬
I guessed that "Blood on the Tracks" might speak to your heart, even before you mentioned it ... I find "New Morning" to be quite an emotional experience, in parts at least. As well as "Oh Mercy" and especially "Time Out of Mind", from the perspective of an older Bob (and older me!). I wish you much joy and revelation on your Dylan journey!
The way you now hear Bob Dylan is the way I now hear Genesis and the Grateful Dead. I have to admit- discovering the years with Peter Gabriel and/ or Steve Hackett, I could never hear the years of them as a trio the same way again. I still love many of the songs on those Collins/ Banks/ Rutherford albums. I also remember realizing I really like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kansas in a very similar way.
I discovered I like Bob Dylan when I was 15. Some of the lyrics made me feel more grown up! To me, the decision to go electric was like Dorothy opening the door in The Wizard Of Oz and seeing lots of different colors for the 1st time!
Oh yeah, I can’t wait to see the movie which I’m sure I will!
And of course, another great video, TJ! Thanks for sharing and happy New Year!
Dylan was the bond we both shared in love with Bob's music. Marriage was heaven with Bob Dylan a huge part.
Really enjoyed this episode. You captured my feelings about Dylan’s music as well. I tend to be attracted to rhythm and melody over lyrics and for that reason wasn’t immediately attracted to his music. I found much of it, other than the hits, laborious. The movie put the music in greater context and helped me appreciate the lyrics more.
This is so enlightening. Thanks and props for being open to Dylan. I watched the movie and you can't help but love the acting and music. But I thought, knowing the stories as Dylan fans do, the movie had ZERO tension, a blip for a story arc. Really glad I came across your video for another perspective. Great job.
I am so happy the film had this affect on you! Ioved the movie and found it quite emotional to be immersed into that time and place!
Great observations/review. I’ve seen the movie twice, it was that good. I think the name of the movie, A Complete Unknown, is a double meaning … not just a reference from the iconic song, Like a Rolling Stone, but also to the enigmatic and mysterious quality of Bob Dylan … even those closest to him could not figure him out or get to know much about him. There was that one scene from the movie where his girlfriend, Sylvie, is exasperated with him that she doesn’t know much of anything about him. The movie also inspired me to delve deeper into the early period of Dylan’s catalogue. Chalamet and the rest of the cast were fabulous in their portrayals and performances. Thanks for the review.
You may want to read Suze Rotolo, "A Free Wheelin Time"--a memoir of her time with Dylan before he became known and wrote some of his most iconic songs. Suze was Dylan's muse at the time -- a fact Dylan would likely acknowledge.
That scene gives a glimpse of what it's like with most musicians. With a savant like Dylan I couldn't even imagine.
Thank you. I hope others have similar experiences. When people can get behind the the myths, the press, and and the media curtains, and just experience the man and his art directly without prejudgment, I think they sometimes discover an insightful and often inspirational way of looking at the world that once seen simply can't be unseen.
Like U, this bio-pic was watched on X-mas eve in a cinéma ! ! Bravo 4 your fair review. 🎉 🎉 🎉
So great that you gained a deeper appreciation for the music through this movie. I've been hoping that will happen for people who were never that enamoured with Dylan.
This movie is a must see. I was a casual Bob Dylan fan until this year. I started to listen more, and then I saw the film, I'm hooked. Dylan is a genius.
Felt the same way as The Beach Boys most notably Brian Wilson. I never got into them for the longest time but a couple years ago I listened to God Knows played by various artists on BBC 1 and it hit me how great of a songwriter Wilson truly is. I then saw Love & Mercy and I realized he truly was a troubled modern beautiful artist. And Dylan's music can take a similar process. As we grow as people spmdo our taste in music.
Welcome aboard the Bob train. Excellent commentary, so thank you! I've also seen the film twice. Blood on the Tracks is still my all-time fave.
There were times in the movie, where Tim became Bob, but didn't try to imitate him with the typical twang. It also did a great job of showing mentors of Bob and how some were challenged by his desire to evolve musically and his personality. The scene after a performance where he was sitting inside his motel room, the look matched his Blood on the Tracks album cover. Very good direction of this movie.
Yes! Especially the eyes in so many moments. My mom and I talked about this with Walk the Line and Ray - how you almost forgot you were watching an actor. I think Chalamet may have surpassed those performances. Especially considering the fact he sang live!
Great review. And thanks for sharing your “Dylan journey” with us.
I saw the movie and loved it. One of my top three films of the year. I plan on going to see it at least once more before it leaves the theater.
It really is a theatrical experience.
I have loved much of Dylan’s music over the years. And this movie made me love it even more. Especially HIGHWAY and BLONDE (the latter is my favorite Dylan album).
I really enjoyed listening to your thoughts about Dylan and the movie. He has long been my favorite artist, hands-down. And my very favorite Dylan album is Blood on the Tracks. Which incidentally was the first Dylan album that I was introduced to when I was 15. I’m always pleased to know that this album has touched others as well. I’m planning to see the movie next week. I’m glad that it has encouraged you to delve more into his music.
I loved it. Fantastic performances!
Chalamet is a special talent..... the movie was sensational
Completely agree! I watched this film as a Pete Seeger fan, and I didn’t expect to care much for Dylan by the end. In many ways I didn’t - his affairs and personal dramas continue to bore me. But I do find myself listening to his music more than before, and I feel a new appreciation of the effort he put in, even if he isn’t my favorite folk artist of the era
What you say makes sense. The music is more exciting when you see it in its real context (which the movie convincingly recreates), not in that of Top 40, radio, hi-fi and stereo music entertainment. He was a cultural, artistic A-bomb at the moment in time that is captured in the movie.
He changed almost everything, uncovering a new, unsuspected universe of possibilities in popular song expression.
In just four years he set the music world spinning with sounds, phrasing, lyrics and attitudes, reflections and emotions that were equally preposterous and exciting.
I would think that the performance of "I Was Young When I Left Home" in the film would win the hearts of at least a few that didn't know they could appreciate Bob Dylan music.
The movie's rendition of "Maggie's Farm" at Newport 1965 does convey Dylan's feat of becoming an absolute master of each completely new musical genre that he himself created out of his successive unique musical/lyrical syntheses between 1961 and 1965.
Did you forget to mention Elle Fanning, because she didn't play the role of a performer?
Her performance was very good, as good as any in the film (but I can see how this doesn't relate to your getting a new take on Bob Dylan's music).
Growing into my teens when Bob Dylan started his folk singing career, I felt the full impact of his music. Songs like “With God On Your Side” and “It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding” Dylan literally forced his listeners to confront the reality of their lives and politics honestly. We were trained in the ways of honesty and expected it from our politicians. The threat of nuclear war was part of our reality. Life was known to be too important to tolerate cheats and liars. This is why the 60’s were revolutionary. Dylan’s songs were foundational to that revolution. Now is a good time to recapture that cultural understanding. We need it.
Great summary - both about the film and your journey.
Excellent comment on the movie! Right place at right time, and the feeling of "living" the music and characters 👍👍👍
I liked listening to your take on this.
I started listening to radio late in 1966. Over the years I heard "Like a Rolling Stone and "Rainy Day Women" a few times, played as oldies. I heard "Lay Lady Lay" frequently in 1969. I was more of a Beatles and blues fan. I loved George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" and one of my favorite songs on it was "If Not for You", which I noted was a Dylan composition. Then in late 1971 or early 1972 I got the "Concert for Bangla Desh" album with one side featuring Dylan, and also in Rolling Stone magazine was reading lengthy excerpts of Anthony Scaduto's biography. I was intrigued. When in May 1972 I got my final paycheck from a brief time in the US Air Force I went to the record store, bought all his albums, and started listening to them in order. I was hooked and have been a fan of his ever since (although not of every single thing that he has done).
I saw the film Christmas Day and liked it a lot. I enjoyed spotting the differences between the events of the film and the events as they actually happened. For instance Woody Guthrie in 1961 was able to spend a lot of time staying with friends (not just Pete Seeger) in East Orange, New Jersey and that's usually where Bob visited him.
But that stuff didn't bother me. If this was a documentary, I'd say "They got it wrong". But I recognized this is a biopic - trying to get to the essence of what happened in a few busy years into a little over two hours; compressing, simplifying, eliminating or combining people or incidents, re-arranging the chronology somewhat.
I intend to see it again when it comes to the theater that's close to me.
I started at the very beginning of his catalog and by the end was obsessed😎✌
I absolutely loved the movie! The actors were excellent! Looking forward to watching a 2nd time....
You summed up my experience exactly. Other than a couple hits, I was mostly thankful that the Byrds covered some pivotal Dylan tunes. But somehow the film gave me a context to appreciate the artistry as well as the surliness stemming from an audience and peer group who felt like their adoration entitled them to feel owed and place expectation to the point of feeling betrayed when he wasn't willing to be what they demanded. For all the talk of "freedom" in the folk movement, there sure was a lot of dogma.
I love the scene in the car with Pete Seeger when Bob turns on the radio to Little Richard and casually defends the music against Pete's polite derision. Though brief, to me it is pivotal to understanding the arc of the movie, and in turn the reality behind Bob Dylan "going electric." Going and looking at and listening to period interviews after I saw the film, it is clear that even early on in his folk success Bob is correcting people when they want to make him their personal folk amulet and cast him in a role he didn't audition for.
Welcome to the Bob Dylan club! 😊 I joined it, not from those seminal Bob Dylan albums you mentioned, but from his 1983 "Infidels" album. As that was the year I really delved into the music mainstream, that's the album of his I first saw music videos of, and heard tracks from on my local rock radio station. Then, between 1984 and 1986, I got all of those seminal Bob Dylan albums. I put Bob Dylan, as a songwriter, right up there with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, when they were in The Beatles. The only songwriter in the world, who I think rivaled them at that time. I guess the main purpose of a well-made biopic, is to get new fans for the music artist depicted. And this "A Complete Unknown" biopic has obviously done its job. Think how many new fans Queen must have gotten, after the "Bohemian Rhapsody" biopic. I'm glad you're finally hearing what the Bob Dylan fans have heard for decades. And don't forget, Bob Dylan's best works are not only found on his albums. There are many great songs which were left off his original albums, some even better than the ones on the album itself. These can mostly be found on his "Bootleg Series" and "50th Anniversary Collection" sets.
I had a similar situation with Dylan music couldn't find a entry point to dive into his universe while have friends gushing over his work.
I started think about his work after watching the we are the world documentary and what stage he was in his life back then and how he felt like an alien to the the surrounding he was in while still carrying this great sense of reverence.
I knew of his career in micro fragments like his song the Hurricane but did know or understand the genesis story around him.
I asked chat gbt which Dylan album captured my profile and it said Time out of mind which surprised me because it was made in 1997 and isn't talked about in the same way as his 60s album.
But the gbt suggestion was spot on as I connected with the album which makes sense as I learnt that Dylan wanted to make an album in the style of Beck who I'm a big fan of.
Once I found the entry point I wanted to find out more about his comeback period as well as his beginning so the no direction home documentary was brilliant.
So I'm more interested in watching the film now and listening to those 60s,70s albums
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Bob Dylan and Joan Baez sing "It Aint Me Babe" at the Newport Folk Festival. Joan give Bob the finger and tells him to "Shut the fuck up and sing." Immediately thereafter, the two show great chemistry on stage together, and nail the song. His girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning) tearfully recognizes that she could never have that musical connection with Bob and decides to go home. Perhaps the scene was contrived but the music is spot on.
I really admire your honesty! I'm saying the film on 17th January and I can't wait. I've been a Dylan fan since I was 13 and I'm now 53!
Love your review...and Yes...I discovered Dylan...and loved the movie. Will see it again. 😊
enjoyed the review - as a big Dylan fan, I can't wait until the movie opens here in Japan in February. The history teacher in me has to point out that you mention some of the tensions playing out in the time line of the film, which ends in 1965, but the assassination of MLK didn't happen until April of 1968.
Excellent : thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for the movie and resulting appreciation of the man’s music.
I loved the movie. I found it efficient in telling the story. We get so much with little details!
I returned to FreeWheeling. Been a long time since I listened to it. At the time I bought Highway 61, his first LP, and Bringing it all Back Home. I agree with you on Blonde on Blonde….some great songs but not my favorite LP. Blood is as good as the early stuff.
Brilliant video. We all have artists we wished we got better. Very honest presentation! And welcome to Dylan land
great video about a topic which sometimes is hard to put into words.
Thank you for you perspective
Timothée said he hoped this film could be a bridge for people to Dylans music.
Excellent film...best one I've seen in years....worth watching....
I love this movie!!!!!!!
Yes, when I walked into a room aged 16, Freewheelin and Bob Dylan LPs spoke to me particularly Don't Think Twice. Over the years I bought each LP but several did not grab me .. Nashville Skyline took awhile... many don't like his voice but did get a but monotonous over the years. I could see why people did not get him. He was ahead of his time, he was unique in so many ways. I could go on forever.
Everyone should go listen to Mr. Dave Van Ronk if you're in the same boat as this guy and just starting to understand Dylan. Van Ronk was a big influence and teacher to Bobby and a premier folk-blues artist.
Yes!
Is Dave represented in the film?
@@swarkamal Won't give anything away about the film but he has one very small cameo at the beginning. I wish it was way more.
@blondiesaband
thanks very much. It would have been good to honor van Ronk's musicianship and early influence on Dylan and others at the time.
I’ve seen the movie twice now, second time I took my music aficionado friends. We’re all revisiting Dylan’s work now. That movie was made for people who understand music. A truly unique and powerful film.
Great movie about young Bob. I 1st saw bob when I was 10 years old we went to his uncle store in Hibbing minn. He was stocking shoe shelves and I think he was 17 or 18 his uncle was yelling at him leather jacket boots and hair slicked back he smiled AR me and ran out the back . next Rome I seen him he was on stage singing!
Excellent review and shared Insights and surprises
My two favorite Dylan albums, Desire and Slow Train Coming. Worth a listen.
Completely concur with what this fellow is saying. I never got Dylan either. Now I can’t get enough.
I have felt about Bob Dylan the way you do now since I was a teenager, so welcome to our club. I just saw the movie for the second time this morning. I remember in the 70's I was a big Elton John fan, until I discovered Dylan. Then, overnight, it was: 'Elton who?'
I think what is not fully understood is exactly what Bob Dylan represented at that time. His combination of folk, rock and his poetic genius, was groundbreaking in the sense that he touched the soul of the baby boomers generation. In essence, he became the spokes person of that generation.
Thank you for review and your perspectives.
When i was a kid, Lay Lady Lay was a hit on the radio. It would come on our local rock station, and i would wonder why it was on the radio. But, I would listen to it, and can still hear it playing out of the speaker in moms car.
I just saw this last night. I was worried I wouldn't like it, but it was what I was expecting. It was mostly a typical biopic with good performance. If someone is looking for a complete story, no direction home is the way to go
Much appreciate your review.Planning on seeing this for sure!
I have argued that this is less a biopic than it is a drama built around the specific event of Dylan going electric. Maggies Farm is actually a cryptic reference to the microphones Dylan was using to record acoustic music.
Listen to Another Side. It's a great bridge between outlooks, approaches. Nice video!
What a review man! 👏👏
Great to hear that you have a new appreciation of Dylan’s music. As good as this movie is, the most important thing is that “A Complete Unknown “ will introduce a new generation to Dylan’s music and genius.
The most helpful insight I got about Dylan was when he said "I go where the music goes." Can the two really be separated? His Nobel Prize speech also offers a great deal of insight and is worth reading. He speaks about growing up in Minnesota and the literature that inspired his song writing.
Saw it . The movie was a roller coaster ride . I liked the organic and the electric . I sympathized with the tension . There was a sense of Dylan still a kid . ( A Holden Caulfield ) So we're we .
“Jokerman” by Dylan is great song and video.x
The film is great even for dedicated Dylan fans like myself. Glad it opened up America's all-time greatest songwriter for you. I would suggest that anyone else reading who feels like the OP in their inability to penetrate Bob, just start with Freewheelin' in his oeuvre. Entirely approachable material and some of his greatest tunes. Moving basically chronologically through Bob is a valid approach to his catalog as you'll experience his genesis as an artist.
I was the complete opposite to you - I can't remember ever NOT liking Dylan, though I leaned more to his Beat Symbolism of the mid-60s than his early hillbilly folk singer day, or to his protest stuff. I've seen him twice, in the 90s and 2000s. In fact, I was worried than the film would simplify his life and music too much. But the tight time frame, with a skip in the middle, really worked. The Chalemet really caught the elusive, mask-wearing aspect of the early Dylan. Three thumbs up.
I hope it's just as good as I'm Not There. That film was a masterpiece.
Big fan here of Dylan. I really enjoyed that with the movie. some scenes felt like I was there in the room while he was creating some of his masterpieces. Loved the movie.
I hear you. Big Beatles fan as well..... I really do like most of Dylan's '60's catalog, but I'm not as crazy about most of his catalog after that. He was definitely ahead of his time. He transformed the way (maturity... Especially lyrically) songs were written, after. That's one reason he's not as hard hitting in later years for later generations, as he was at the time.
My favorite Dylan album is whatever one I'm listening to.
Saw the movie, the day it opened. Leaving Dylan "enigmatic" reminds me of Roger Ebert's comment about "2001, A Space Odyssey" He wasn't sure he liked how it dragged along, then he realized that "space is boring"...Like discovering the essence isn't necessarily what you want or like, but what it represents.
Another thing to keep in mind is there are multiple Bob Dylan songs recorded by other artists from the 60s that are fondly remembered in similar ways to Beatles songs. I think that is largely because of how the songs were performed and recorded by the other groups. All Along the Watchtower, Mr. Tambourine Man, It Ain't Me Babe, and The Mighty Quinn are examples. The same song recorded in the folk style doesn't have as wide of appeal. Even people that are big fans of Dylan usually refer to his lyrics more than how he performs the songs.
Trying to figure out who Bob Dylan is and what makes him tick, is a fool's errand. I got hooked on Dylan in 1976 when my brother brought home "Desire". I would, over the next 50 years drift away from Dylan and listen to something else for a while but always find myself back to Dylan. The volume of music is amazing. He seems to change every five years or so and then changes back. You can pick an album from every decade that he has recorded and find a gem. I haven't seen the film yet and am not in a rush. I'll watch some day and until then I'll just listen and enjoy.
An interesting contemplation. I enjoyed hearing your perspective.
I have to watch this movie. Bob Dylan is a musician that I would always change on the radio station whenever he came on because I hated his singing. It was like nails on a blackboard. I don’t care how great the lyrics are, if all you are thinking about listening to his songs, is how painful it is, that’s not good. So I hope learning more about him will make me appreciate him more.
Well bro I can’t stand 80s music but the 90s wow the rock and alternative is sooo goood!
I love this Dylan Movie I really was amazed and I see Dylan as singular! A young artist throwing himself to the universe to become Bob Dylan and do it his way!
First time I heard "It's Alright Ma....I'm Only Bleeding," it literally changed my life.
As a major Dylan fan I found myself questioning scene after scene as in "that never happened!". Now that I got that out of my system I look forward to seeing it again as a "movie" not a documentary.
Saw the movie today.Absolutely fantastic!
Your review is so well done 👍