Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Eriko Hatsune, Scoot McNairy, Boyd Holbrook
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Runtime: 141 mins. Reviewed in Jan 2025
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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New York, 1961. An unknown 19-year-old named Bob Dylan arrives with his revolutionary talent. He forges relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a performance that reverberates worldwide.
For audiences with long memories, singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, has been a constant presence since he first went to New York City in 1961. At the time, aged only 20, he made contact with Pete Seeger, and was given opportunities to sing in clubs, at festivals, and to record. And, he has done so ever since. Still at work in his 80s, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 for having created new poetic expressions.
For younger audiences, becoming aware of the Bob Dylan of later years, memories of his songs, his contribution to folk music, his developments and musical talent, may have made a strong impression.
Which means that this two-hour 20-minute film about Bob Dylan’s earliest years, from a complete unknown in 1961 to a star, acclaimed, but also criticised for his transition from folk to electric instruments in developing music styles at the Newport Festival in 1965, will be a significant experience.
And, there is Chalamet’s performance. A physically slight figure, with characteristic wavy hair, intent on singing, writing his lyrics, always with a cigarette in his mouth, Chalamet brings Dylan to life. (In 12 months Chalamet has been Wonka, Paul Atreides in Dune 2 and now Bob Dylan, indicating that in his talent, Chalamet is a screen chameleon. It is worth seeing him in interviews as his ordinary self to appreciate his versatility.)
Not that Dylan in his early years was always an attractive character to meet. He was self-obsessed, ambitious, intent on writing and composing at all times and all places, fickle, often casual and offhand in relationships, especially with singer Joan Baez. But career wise and creatively, he knows what he wants for himself.
One of the great values of director Mangold’s film is situating the early songs, including some songs from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger as well as ‘Blowing in the Wind’, ‘The Times are a’changing’ and quite a catalogue of other songs. Impressively, Chalamet sings all the songs himself, plays the guitar and harmonica. In fact, all the supporting cast do their own singing, Monica Barbaro impressive with a beautiful voice as Joan Baez, Ed Norton in an impressive performance as a sympathetic Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash. (Incidentally, James Mangold directed the film portrait of Johnny Cash in 2005, Walk the Line.)
There are some moving moments at the beginning of the film and at the end with Pete Seeger present and singing for a chronically ill Woody Guthrie in hospital.
Bob Dylan has been a significant figure in American and world music for more than 60 years. This is a welcome opportunity for us to go back to this introduction to a complete unknown.
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