We have our first reactions for James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown,” which screened last night in Los Angeles. As with all social media reactions, take these with a major grain of salt — the film screens for wider press in New York on Saturday.
Not many actual critics have weighed in yet on ‘Complete Unknown.’ Yes, early word is positive, and Timothee Chalamet is being praised for his turn as Bob Dylan, but some of the same folks calling Chalamet’s turn worthy of awards and the film itself an “Oscar contender” had originally raved about “Gladiator II.”
The film, which is said to clock in at 2 hours 20 minutes, taps into the folk scene of the early 60s and Dylan’s rising stardom. The rest of the cast includes Edward Norton (Pete Seeger), Elle Fanning (Suze Rotolo), Monica Barbaro (Joan Baez) and Nick Offerman (Alan Lomax) and Boyd Holbrook (Johnny Cash).
“A Complete Unknown” was actually shot earlier this year, and only added to the 2024 release calendar in late summer. A quick turnaround for a film that’s attempting to take advantage of a weaker than usual Oscar race.
Mangold (“Ford V Ferrari,” “Logan”) has described “A Complete Unknown” as “Altman-esque, an ensemble piece” that will involve a mosaic of artists such as Guthrie, Baez, Cash and Seeger. Former film critic Jay Cocks wrote the script. He’s only written five films in 30 years, including “The Age of Innocence,” “Silence,” “Gangs of New York,” and “Strange Days.”
“A Complete Unknown” is set to hit theaters on December 25.
