Embracing Dylan’s Mystique

I must confess from the outset that, being a card-carrying Dylan snob, I was thoroughly predisposed to not like A Complete Unknown. I was also happy to be disabused of this notion as the film artfully managed to avoid the mistake of solving the enigma that is Bob Dylan; but rather chose to embrace the complexity of this profound artist by exploring his early years in and around the Greenwich Village folk scene and present an believable representation of the artist as a young man.

This was made possible by suburb direction by James Mangold and a believable script written by Mangold and Jay Cocks (based on the book by Elijah Wald) after serious consultation with Dylan himself who provided numerous additions to the narrative. The result was an well-paced narrative that remained true to the life and particular time of a this great American artist. 

The individual portrayals of the principle characters were also essential to the movie’s success as Timothee Chalamet’s representation of Dylan was rendered with meticulous attention to the spirit of the artist without trying to imitate him. Make no mistake, Chalamet did capture Dylan’s mannerisms, including a faithful rendering of his voice, but did so by avoiding a simple mimic of Dylan’s sound. Edward Norton’s portrayal of folk legend Pete Seeger was equally impressive as he managed to fully embody the character in such a way as to express Seeger’s essential goodness, devotion to his music, and his utter sincerity. As the English might say: Norton’s performance was ‘different gravy’! Other cast members’ performances were also notable: Elle Fanning as Dylan’s Greenwich Village girlfriend (Suze Rotolo) was especially moving, Monica Barbaro was convincing as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as a slightly unhinged Johnny Cash, Dan Folger as Dylan’s loyal manager with a perpetual eye on the bottom line, and Will Harrison as Dylan’s faithful friend (Bobby Neuwirth) all made excellent and believable contributions to the telling of this story. Last but certainly not least was the remarkable Scoot McNairy who portrayed a dying Woody Guthrie with a stunning nonverbal performance.

As a consequence of his magnificent musical and lyrical brilliance, Bob Dylan has been a vital part of my life, from the early 60’s when my cousin first introduced me to this slightly unkept singer from the West Village, through various stages of life wherein he was a constant companion while assisting me to negotiate various sections of troubled waters on a sometimes difficult journey. Perhaps more importantly, it is Dylan’s persistent dedication to artistic integrity and his unfailing observation of truthful expression that has represented a reliable template for a life lived with independence and authenticity. A Complete Unknown gave us a clear-eyed glimpse into the early life of one of greatest artists of our time and opportunity to expose a whole new generation of young people to his unique gifts. 

Contrasting Legacies

It is with cruel irony that we celebrate MLK Day concurrent with the advent of another four years that promises to expand authoritarian rule under a Trump presidency. 

In a speech delivered at Stanford University a year before his assassination, Dr. King issued a warning to the nation to be on guard against the three evils of racism, poverty, and militarism working in concert to impede fulfillment of a vision of America wherein the values of being an agent of peace throughout the world, a society in which equality and human dignity are held as sacred, achievable ideals worthy of our collective attention, and the elimination of debilitating poverty, which has prevented the lifting of all boats to a place of economic security heretofore  reserved only for a privileged few. 

MLK’s vision stands in sharp contrast to the promise afforded by the incoming administration, which exalts an historic wealth inequality with a pledge to widen the gap by further decreasing the tax burden of the ultra rich, many of whom will occupy key positions within the new government; seeks to promote and approve the renewal of the defense industry’s contracts that will perpetuate a world-wide imperial network the existence of which requires perpetual military presence and likely violent intervention on behalf of a corporate empire beholding to its economic interests with scant regard for the human toll such an enterprise has always entailed; and actively supports and encourages the most base instincts among the population to revive and promote long-standing racist sentiments and white supremacy, festering just beneath the surface for countless generations only to be reawakened and cynically exploited by a demagogue dedicated to use whatever means necessary to further his narrow self-interest while remaining woefully indifferent to the real needs of ordinary citizens many of whom have ironically supported his candidacy. 

While Matin Luther King would be saddened by this turn of events, it is

also a certainty that he would now implore his fellow brothers and sisters to be vigilant in the pursuit of an American dream consistent with his vision of a society bound together by mutual respect, non-violence, economic justice, a desire to preserve Mother Earth, and a deep regard for our common humanity. Would that we honor his memory by making such a thing manifest in this world.