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    Movie Review

    Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown tells an Oscar-worthy tale

    Alex Bentley
    Dec 24, 2024 | 9:30 am
    Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown

    Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown.

    Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

    Music biopics never seem to go out of style, although they’re rarely very good because most of them tend to tell the same story. A musician/band gets discovered, rises to popularity, experiences trouble at their peak due to (insert sex/drugs/alcohol/ego), and either finds a measure of redemption once they’ve been sufficiently humbled or dies due to their lack of control.

    Paradoxically, what few music biopics fail to do is properly showcase the music that made the person popular in the first place, a mistake that A Complete Unknown doesn’t repeat, becoming a smashing success in the process. The film follows Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) over a roughly four-year period from when he first arrived in New York City in 1961 to his then-revolutionary electric set at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

    Dylan seeks out well-known folk singers Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and an ailing Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) when he first arrives, with Seeger taking him under his wing. Dylan starts to establish himself in the local club scene with his unique songwriting voice, meeting fellow singer Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), with whom he starts an on-and-off relationship. As his popularity grows, his reaction is antithetical to what’s expected, as he rarely engages with fans and focuses on his next song(s) instead of the ones for which he became known.

    Directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line) and written by Mangold and Jay Cocks, the film may not be much of a revelation for Dylan superfans, but for casual fans or those who know nothing about him, it is one of the most effective music biopics in recent memory, if not ever. Not only does Mangold track the musical evolution of Dylan, but he gives the full context of the people who influenced him most, including Guthrie, Seeger, Baez, and more.

    The film is not a musical in the traditional sense, but the amount of music in it makes it the next best thing. Rarely does more than a few minutes go by before someone is singing, either on stage, for someone close to them, or as part of the songwriting process. Whether you’re a folk music fan or not, the way the genre is showcased in the film will make you believe in its power and why it was so popular at that particular point in time.

    Dylan is famous for his enigmatic personality, and Mangold does a great job of maintaining that elusiveness while still exploring what drove Dylan early in his career. His relationships with Baez and the fictional Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) give him some dimension, but why he continually went back-and-forth between them (or why they put up with him) is only lightly explored. The film keeps most of the drama focused on the music, and it’s this decision that makes it as compelling as it is.

    Chalamet has been “The Next Big Thing” since his Oscar nomination for Call Me By Your Name, but the combination of the Dune series, Wonka, and now this has firmly established him as the star he is. His Dylan impersonation (including singing) is subtle-yet-clear, and he has the cool factor that makes him completely believable in the role. The supporting cast is also off-the-charts good, with Norton and Barbaro making the best cases for awards notice.

    While 2024 has had its fair share of great movies, A Complete Unknown — in this critic’s opinion — should now be the favorite to win Best Picture at next year’s Oscars. It bucks the trend of mediocre music biopics by giving moviegoers the transporting feeling of what it was like to experience Dylan’s meteoric rise, and why his early songs remain so indelible.

    ---

    A Complete Unknown opens in theaters on December 25.

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    Here are the top 16 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig Lindsey
    Jun 17, 2026 | 6:30 pm
    A$AP Rocky
    Photo by @pleckham
    A$AP Rocky in concert

    This weekend, people will either be celebrating Juneteenth, or hanging out with their dads. There will also be those who will use the opportunity to do both. (You know there are some Juneteenth Father’s Day brunches happening ‘round here.)

    Anyway, we have some early Juneteenth popping off before the big day, along with some events celebrating International Yoga Day, Make Music Day, and the two-year anniversary of ARTECHOUSE Houston.

    And, if we missed anything, as a visiting comedian would say, we’re sorry.

    Thursday, June 18

    Acres Home Chamber Juneteenth Farm-to-Table Brunch
    This Juneteenth, the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development will honor Black American farmers, growers, and artisans through food, community, and storytelling. The Chamber's Farm-to-Table Juneteenth Brunch will feature ingredients sourced directly from local farmers market vendors. Diners can enjoy a seasonal meal prepared with fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients while learning more about the importance of food access, community agriculture, and economic empowerment in Acres Home. 11 am.

    BLD PWR Day + Juneteenth Weekend 2026
    BLD PWR is activating BLD PWR Day + Juneteenth Weekend 2026, three powerful days of culture, community and celebration going down at Houston-rooted cultural hub The SLAB. Things kick off on Thursday with BLD PWR Day, where director Boots Riley will host a screening of his new film I Love Boosters. The next day is the Juneteenth celebration, featuring a livestream activation with Boosters star Keke Palmer. It all ends on Sunday with a WAGBT Karaoke/The Session R&B Jam. 3 pm (11 am Saturday; 7 pm Sunday).

    The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston presents Once Upon My Mother
    The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston will host a screening of Once Upon My Mother, the Audience Choice Feature Film winner at this year’s Houston Jewish Film Festival, as part of its Summer Film Series. Inspired by Roland Perez’s bestselling memoir, the French-language film tells the moving story of a devoted mother who refuses to accept the limitations placed on her son after he is born with a disability. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, June 19

    Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes Tour
    The famously clean comic, actor, and Emmy Awards host (and UFC fan) comes to Houston, as part of his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour. He’ll be at Toyota Center on both Thursday and Friday nights. 7 pm.

    Houston Broadway Theatre presents Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a sweeping musical (and adaptation of the 1996 Disney-animated feature) from Disney's legendary composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked). Based on Victor Hugo's gothic masterpiece and featuring the film's Academy Award-nominated score plus new songs, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a breathtaking tale of love, acceptance, redemption, and hope even in the darkest of times. 7:30 pm (2 & 8 pm Saturday; 1 & 7 pm Sunday).

    Houston Symphony presents The Music of Queen
    On Friday and Saturday, celebrate one of the greatest bands of all time with this high-energy concert, featuring hit after iconic hit. Backed by the sonic power of the full Houston Symphony, vocalist MiG Ayesa channels Freddie Mercury’s signature sound for an evening of Queen’s greatest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” and more. Let’s hope they play “Another One Bites the Dust” and we can get our disco on in the aisles. 7:30 pm.

    Performing Arts Houston presents Riverdance 30: The New Generation
    Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish/international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, Riverdance will present a production that rejuvenates the original show with new choreography and costumes and state of the art lighting, projection, and motion graphics. And, for the first time, Riverdance welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when the show began 30 years ago. 7:30 pm (2 & 7:30 pm Saturday: 1 & 6:30 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, June 20

    The Cards & More Tour
    This nationally traveling expo series brings together collectors, fans, and vendors from across the world of sports cards, Pokémon, comics, anime, memorabilia, and more. It's a free, family-friendly event filled with live entertainment, food trucks, vendor trade parties, raffle giveaways, and more. Both seasoned collectors and curious newcomers will find plenty to enjoy. 10 am (10 am Sunday).

    BEWM Coffee presents BRIKS Loves You Canvas Series Drop 006 Launch Party
    Austin-based coffee distributor BEWM Coffee will celebrate the launch of its Canvas Series Drop 006, featuring artwork by Houston artist BRIKS Loves You. They’ll be taking over Brasil Café with fresh brewed coffee, exclusive collectibles, giveaways, sticker trading, and plenty of good conversation. Come meet BRIKS, grab the new limited-edition release, and hang out with fellow artists, collectors, coffee lovers, and sticker heads. 9:30 am.

    ARTECHOUSE Houston Two-Year Anniversary Weekend featuring Beyond the Light
    ARTECHOUSE Houston marks its two-year anniversary with the return of Beyond the Light, one of its most beloved exhibitions. With the universe as its backdrop, this two-day exhibition highlights the importance of light in our pursuit of knowledge, and the evolution of technology that allows us to discover beyond our own experiences. For this special anniversary weekend, Beyond the Light will give longtime fans and first-time visitors the opportunity to experience the exhibition that introduced H-Town to ARTECHOUSE. 10 am.

    Hotel Saint Augustine presents Summer Solstice with Vave’ao
    Hotel Saint Augustine will host a Polynesian-inspired Summer Solstice Pool Party, in partnership with soon-to-debut beauty brand Vave’ao. Going down at the Saint Augustine Pool, this high-energy, sun-soaked poolside escape featuring traditional lei greetings, live performances, curated tropical bites, and an exclusive first look at a new beauty collection. Tickets for the 21+ event will include pool access and one signature cocktail. 5 pm.

    Consulate General of India, Houston presents 12th International Day of Yoga 2026
    The Consulate General of India, Houston will be hosting their International Day of Yoga event at Midtown Park, for a public gathering of yoga, peace and mindfulness. The celebration will continue at George Bush Park with a yoga session and 5K walk. All of these events are free and open to the public and everyone is welcome to come practice, from long-time practitioners, first-timers, elders, families and kids. 6 pm. (7 am Sunday).

    A$AP Rocky in concert
    The rapper/actor's 42-city, Don’t Be Dumb World Tour makes its stop in Houston this weekend. Named for his first full-length album in eight years, the rapper is coming off strong acting performances in Highest 2 Lowest and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You as well as a high-energy appearance on Saturday Night Live. He also served as co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala. 8:30 pm.

    A$AP Rocky
    Photo by @pleckham

    A$AP Rocky in concert.

    Sunday, June 21

    Fresh Arts presents Make Music Day Houston
    Houston comes alive with sound as Make Music Day Houston returns for a citywide celebration led by Fresh Arts. Part of a global event spanning 120 countries, this year’s festivities embrace the spirit of the FIFA World Cup with world-inspired music, community pride and the unifying energy of sport. Falling on Father’s Day, the event also features family-friendly, all-ages performances and interactive experiences. Noon.

    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Hew Locke: "Passages" opening day
    Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke combines found materials and imagery to create theatrical tableaux that address iconographies of empire, history and collective memory. Starting this weekend, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will present the most comprehensive survey to date devoted to the work of this artist. Spanning the 1990s through to the present, "Passages" showcases the spectrum of Locke’s practice, with over 40 pieces that examine the histories of colonialism across five continents. Through Sunday, September 13. 12.30 pm.

    Czech That Film Texas presents iDENTITY: A Czech Graphic Design Love Story
    Auctioneer/Czech-American Nicholas Lowry travels from New York to Prague to explore what has shaped and defined Czech national identity. His journey across the Czech Republic takes him to iconic landmarks of graphic design, including Zlín, Litomyšl, Brno, and Plzeň. Through uncovering Czech identity, Nicholas also gains a deeper connection to his own roots—his great-uncle founded the Primeros factory in Prague, which played a significant role in the history of Czech graphic design. 7:15 pm.

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