In the glittering theatre of the Academy Awards, where triumph and heartbreak often tread a fine line, A Complete Unknown found itself firmly on the latter side of the divide. Despite entering the evening with eight nominations — a tally that might have suggested the film was destined to leave an indelible mark — the Bob Dylan biopic walked away with nothing to show for its troubles.
Timothée Chalamet, whose portrayal of Dylan had drawn widespread plaudits for its studied intensity, found himself overlooked in the Best Actor category. The honour instead went to Adrien Brody, rewarded for his performance in The Brutalist. Director James Mangold, too, watched as the Best Director statuette was handed to Anora’s Sean Baker — whose film also claimed the coveted Best Picture award.
Edward Norton’s turn as Pete Seeger failed to sway the Academy in the Supporting Actor category, where Kieran Culkin’s work in A Real Pain won the day. Monica Barbaro, cast as Joan Baez, faced a similar fate, edged out by Zoë Saldana’s performance in Emilia Perez.
In the technical categories, A Complete Unknown suffered further indignities. Wicked bested it in Costume Design, Conclave claimed Adapted Screenplay, while the thunderous soundscapes of Dune: Part Two — another vehicle for Chalamet’s talents — carried off the Sound prize.
Yet, for all its misfortunes, A Complete Unknown remains a film of considerable merit. Mangold’s vision deftly captures the era’s seismic shifts, with Chalamet’s performances in the musical sequences particularly compelling. The film serves as a vivid reminder of Dylan’s enduring cultural resonance, even if the Academy proved immune to its charms.
For those curious to judge for themselves, A Complete Unknown is currently streaming across major platforms and will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on April 1.
