Movie Review: A Complete Unknown on DVD and Digital

Here’s the thing about A Complete Unknown: it’s an impressive movie with some undeniable flaws. On the surface, it’s a solid biopic about Bob Dylan’s early career. The film focuses on the years when he was still a folk darling before shifting toward a more rock-infused sound that left his mentor, Pete Seeger, shaking his head in disappointment. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a film that, while beautifully acted, feels like it’s missing a certain depth. Read on for a movie review of A Complete Unknown, arriving on Digital Feb. 25 and on 4K UHD Blu-ray™ and HD Blu-ray Apr. 1, 2025. The movie will also start streaming on HULU on March 27, 2025.

Read on for a movie review of A Complete Unknown, photo showing Timothee Chalamet as Bod Dylan with sunglasses on

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Let’s start with the cast because, honestly, it saves this film. Timothée Chalamet as Dylan? Perfectly brooding, unpredictable, and aloof. Elle Fanning plays Sylvie, Dylan’s love interest, and she gives a heartbreaking performance as a woman who realizes too late that Dylan’s love might not be the kind she needs. Then there’s Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash. He is absolutely electric in every scene he’s in. He doesn’t just play Cash; he embodies him, giving the film an energy boost whenever he’s on screen.

As for Dylan himself, this movie doesn’t exactly paint him in the best light. He’s not a hero, nor does he seem particularly concerned about the people who orbit around him. He cheats, lies, and shrugs off the emotions of those who care about him. Sylvie? Heartbroken. Joan Baez (who also appears in the filmplayed brilliantly by an underused Monica Barbaro)? Used and discarded. Dylan is portrayed as a musical genius, sure, but not a particularly sympathetic one.

And speaking of Baez, A Complete Unknown leans heavily into Walk the Line territory. In fact, there’s an almost identical scene where Dylan and Baez sing It Ain’t Me, Babe while Sylvie breaks down and runs out of a concert. The scene is so familiar it’s almost distracting, and it’s clearly inspired by the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic.

The biggest problem, though, isn’t the performances, it’s the setting. This is supposed to be the 1960s, but aside from a few period cars in the background, you wouldn’t really know it. The atmosphere, the cinematography, even the costumes, it all feels just a little too modern, like a polished re-creation rather than a deep dive into the culture of 1961-1965. The plot is a bit thin in places, moving from one major event to another without always digging into the why.

That said, if you love Dylan’s music, the movie A Complete Unknown is still worth the watch. The soundtrack is incredible, the performances are excellent, and it’s always fascinating to see a legend’s rise to fame. But does it break new ground for musical biopics? Not really. It’s good, but it’s not quite great.

A Complete Unknown, arrives on Digital Feb. 25 and on 4K UHD Blu-ray™ and HD Blu-ray Apr. 1, 2025.

Audiences can stream Searchlight Pictures’ A Complete Unknown when the film arrives on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers on Mar. 27.

Film Synopsis

New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history. The film also stars Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.

Bonus Feature*