A new film review column by Ballybrittas student John Davis begins in this week’s Laois Nationalist. A law student at University of Galway, 23-year-old John is currently completing an Erasmus year in France. He is a big fan of the silver screen and has a
Film reviewer John Davis
tells the story of the iconic Bob Dylan’s formative years on the folk music scene in New York city and his revolutionary transition to electric music in 1965.
Directed by James Mangold, whose previous work includes the excellent Johnny Cash biopic , the film begins in 1961, when 19-year-old Bob meets folk singer Pete Seeger.
From there, Dylan’s career takes flight and the monumental impact he is about to have on popular music begins to take shape.
Timothée Chalamet is an obvious-yet-uninspired casting choice as Bob Dylan. While he may bear a striking resemblance to the enigmatic musician and does admittedly capture Dylan’s awkward, eccentric mannerisms, his performance comes off as one-note and risks becoming too much of a forced impression rather than a convincing transformation. That being said, credit must be given to Chalamet, who sings all of Dylan’s songs live without any dubbing, while also playing guitar and harmonica. The same is true for the stellar supporting cast, who also sing their respective songs live.
Edward Norton is a standout as Pete Seeger, bringing a gentle and comforting warmth to his role, while Monica Barbaro shines opposite Chalamet as Dylan’s frequent collaborator and love interest Joan Baez. Boyd Holbrook is also surprisingly compelling as Johnny Cash, in a performance that could rival Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Man in Black in .
Much must be made of the film’s impressive production design. 1960s New York has been recreated in painstaking detail, allowing for a true feeling of immersion in the setting. Every diner and music venue feels lived-in and aged, as though you can smell the grease or taste the smoke in the air. Always keen on detail, Mangold exercises his familiar directorial muscles in bringing the early days of Dylan’s story to the screen. And that may be the film’s greatest flaw.
Given the fact that Bob Dylan has always been seen as an enigma – elusive and entirely unknowable – it was always going to be difficult to craft an engaging and emotionally resonant film about the music icon. Knowing very little about him before going into this film, I was eager to learn more about the man behind the shades. Regrettably, I left feeling unsatisfied and frankly none the wiser. An effort to maintain the air of mystery surrounding the musician results in a repetitive and ultimately monotonous film.
The title, taken from Dylan’s iconic 1965 hit ***Like a Rolling Stone***, is therefore wholly appropriate. A complete unknown to everyone in his life, the character of Bob Dylan has always been an unsolved mystery and, unfortunately, remains to be so.
