Timothée Chalamet stars in a film about Bob Dylan’s rise and legacy, introducing him to new fans.
New York City: So, there’s this new movie called A Complete Unknown, and it’s all about Bob Dylan. Timothée Chalamet plays him, which is pretty cool. The film dives into Dylan’s early days and how he became a big deal in the music world.
It starts back in 1961 when Dylan was just a young guy trying to make it in New York. He even went to see his idol, Woody Guthrie, who was in a hospital at the time. That’s where he met Pete Seeger, who really helped him out. It wasn’t an overnight success, though. His first album didn’t do so hot, mostly just covers.
But then came his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, and boom! He was a star. Songs like Blowin’ in the Wind really caught on, and suddenly everyone was talking about him. He became known as a voice of a generation, even if he didn’t really like that title.
Fame wasn’t easy for him. Dylan liked to keep his life private, even changing his name from Robert Zimmerman. He was a bit of a mystery, often giving strange answers when people asked about him. He once joked about his past, saying he worked in construction and drove a bakery truck, which was totally made up.
The movie also touches on his relationship with Joan Baez, another folk singer. They met in 1961, and she helped him gain popularity by covering his songs. But as Dylan got more famous, their relationship faded. Baez mentioned in her documentary that it was tough when he started to pull away.
In 1965, Dylan shocked everyone by going electric. People were not happy about it, but he just wanted to try new things. He released some of his biggest hits during this time, like Like A Rolling Stone. But not everyone was on board; he faced a lot of criticism, especially during a concert when someone yelled “Judas” at him.
After a motorcycle accident in 1966, Dylan took a break from the spotlight for a while. He said it was a chance to escape the pressure of fame. When he returned, he kept reinventing himself, even recording Christian music in the 70s.
Fast forward to the 2000s, and he was back to folk music, winning an Oscar and even a Nobel Prize for his contributions to music. He’s been touring non-stop since 1988, averaging about 100 shows a year. A Complete Unknown hits theaters on January 17, so mark your calendars!
