A Complete Unknown's reviews
Media reviews
The Playlist
Mangold has crafted the definitive portrait of this era and the poetic, aspiring, rebellious kid who refused to be pigeonholed, held down and defined.
Time
There\'s something about A Complete Unknown that pushes against traditional Dylan worship and cuts a path toward something far more beautiful, flawed, and human.
Variety
A Complete Unknown is a drama of scruffy naturalism, with a plot that doesn't so much unfold as lope right along with its legendary, curly-haired, sunglass-wearing coffee-house troubadour hero. Yet the feel — the effect — is that of a musical.
The Hollywood Reporter
Whatever script flaws there are in terms of structure, plot momentum and an opaque central character, A Complete Unknown offers rewards in its lived-in performances and in the exhilarating music sequences that propel it forward. For many audiences with an affection for Dylan\'s music and the era in general, that will be enough.
Empire
Anyone looking for a revelatory portrait of an iconic artist might be a smidge disappointed. But as conventional as it is, this is still a strikingly well-made musical drama with pitch-perfect performances. Don\'t criticise, as Dylan once sang, what you can\'t understand.?
The Wrap
A superficial illustration of the artist\'s allure, interspersed with endless, increasingly comical shots of people watching him perform and smiling beatifically.