Shades of the Great Rock & Roll Swindle…nobody is perfect not even Dylan…the times they were a changing.. the nice Jewish boy from Minnesota has become a god…it’s a Grand Guignol with layers of brilliance and immortality…The alpha lion of the Pride will now be dissected by critics & pundits the leonine roar .. the poet must roam free .. the legend preserved by the scribes of poetry & cinema
Brian Hassets review of the screening in Toronto also superb .. entertaining.. thought provoking… like Kurosawa Rashomon it is a different view of the same story as everyone will review it via their own eyes
I find it interesting that a Bette Davis movie was presented in “A Complete Unknown” considering that Kerouac and Davis were both born in Lowell. Simon this is a good review of a very good movie. Cliff Whalen.
Fascinating indeed, Clifford. I don't think I even knew that Bette Davis was linked to Lowell, too. Is there a reference to one of her movies in the James Mangold production? Thank you also for your positive response to the review.
I enjoyed the film but there were two major oversights that I feel are really central to Dylan's story. First, the Beats and especially Ginsberg were so influential on him but weren't mentioned at all. Second, while the Beatles were mentioned in passing their appearance on Ed Sullivan was not. That was really a Big Bang moment for the 60s and counterculture, the point where every folk musician picked up an electric guitar and and every musician who started their career over the next 20 years describes it as the moment of inspiration. It was certainly an inspiration for Dylan to electric.
There are flashing, fleeting references to the Beats – blink and you’ll miss ’em – when On the Road appears momentarily on Dylan’s desk and Ginsberg rushes by at a crowded party bur, yes, they are essentially excluded from this re-telling. Worth checking out my interview with Elijah Wald, the author of the book which was the film’s catalyst. As for the Beatles, at least they were mentioned. A forthcoming essay by the great Terri Thal, Dylan’s first manager, on the effect the Fab Four had on the folk Village is coming soon…
For anyone interested — I've written a time-coded scene-by-scene breakdown of the movie that also includes exact transcriptions of most of the key dialog, plus lots of stills from key moments, and links to video of all the scenes available online, and/or to the original versions of every song, even those just mentioned or heard for a couple seconds, as well as to background on everyone portrayed in the film.
Great review! Thanks for some of the extra backstories. And thanks for / glad you didn't nitpick the storytelling. It was masterful. And echoes Bob's own proclivities and nature.
Shades of the Great Rock & Roll Swindle…nobody is perfect not even Dylan…the times they were a changing.. the nice Jewish boy from Minnesota has become a god…it’s a Grand Guignol with layers of brilliance and immortality…The alpha lion of the Pride will now be dissected by critics & pundits the leonine roar .. the poet must roam free .. the legend preserved by the scribes of poetry & cinema
That's an intriguing comparison, Jose, with the Pistols' most controversial big screen portrayal. Have you managed to see A Complete Unknown yet?
No I live in Cambodia but I’m willing.
Brian Hassets review of the screening in Toronto also superb .. entertaining.. thought provoking… like Kurosawa Rashomon it is a different view of the same story as everyone will review it via their own eyes
I find it interesting that a Bette Davis movie was presented in “A Complete Unknown” considering that Kerouac and Davis were both born in Lowell. Simon this is a good review of a very good movie. Cliff Whalen.
Fascinating indeed, Clifford. I don't think I even knew that Bette Davis was linked to Lowell, too. Is there a reference to one of her movies in the James Mangold production? Thank you also for your positive response to the review.
I just looked it up. The movie at the beginning of A Complete Unknown is Voyager (1942). It does star Bette Davis.
Splendid. Very much looking forward to seeing the film.
I’m with you Paul!
Great stuff. Loved the film. Wasn’t perfect but my kids liked it too
I enjoyed the film but there were two major oversights that I feel are really central to Dylan's story. First, the Beats and especially Ginsberg were so influential on him but weren't mentioned at all. Second, while the Beatles were mentioned in passing their appearance on Ed Sullivan was not. That was really a Big Bang moment for the 60s and counterculture, the point where every folk musician picked up an electric guitar and and every musician who started their career over the next 20 years describes it as the moment of inspiration. It was certainly an inspiration for Dylan to electric.
There are flashing, fleeting references to the Beats – blink and you’ll miss ’em – when On the Road appears momentarily on Dylan’s desk and Ginsberg rushes by at a crowded party bur, yes, they are essentially excluded from this re-telling. Worth checking out my interview with Elijah Wald, the author of the book which was the film’s catalyst. As for the Beatles, at least they were mentioned. A forthcoming essay by the great Terri Thal, Dylan’s first manager, on the effect the Fab Four had on the folk Village is coming soon…
I guess I blinked.
For anyone interested — I've written a time-coded scene-by-scene breakdown of the movie that also includes exact transcriptions of most of the key dialog, plus lots of stills from key moments, and links to video of all the scenes available online, and/or to the original versions of every song, even those just mentioned or heard for a couple seconds, as well as to background on everyone portrayed in the film.
https://brianhassett.com/2025/03/a-complete-unknown-scene-breakdown-time-codes-song-titles-quotes-context/
Loved the movie, however I really liked the details in the studio depicting Tom Wilson, Al Kooper, and Harvey Brooks
One thing that changed was the whistle he picked up on a street corner, when it was the drummer Sam Lay who Dylan heard messing around with it.
Not seen this pic yet but some neat details to look out for. Thank you.
🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏
Thank you, Andy. Glad you enjoyed the write-up.
Great review! Thanks for some of the extra backstories. And thanks for / glad you didn't nitpick the storytelling. It was masterful. And echoes Bob's own proclivities and nature.
Thanks, Brian, for your positive endorsement. I thought Steven Taylor would have an interesting way into his overview.
Thanks, Brian, for sharing this. It is a fabulous resource to delve into.