The film doesnt chase the high drama or flashy concert re-creations.
Its more interested in showing the quiet, uncertain moments that shaped a young artist finding his voice.
That kind of storytelling in a genre thats starting to feel pretty formulaic is exactly whats needed.
A Complete Unknown
Rami Malek gave his all as Queens front man Freddie Mercury.
Sure, it was entertaining, but it often felt more like a tribute concert than a true story.
A Complete Unknown avoids that trap.
It doesnt make a run at hit every milestone.
Style Over Substance Rocketman
Rocketmanwent in a totally different direction when it hit theaters in 2019.
The movie transformed Elton Johns life into a glittery musical, with surreal dream sequences and choreographed dances.
20th Century Fox
The fantasy style was also a nice way to convey heavy emotional truths.
But sometimes, the spectacle distracted from the story.
You walked away, remembering the costumes and the choreography, not necessarily the man underneath it all.
Paramount Pictures
A Complete Unknown doesnt rely on flash.
It stays grounded and gives Dylans world room to breathe.
Too Much, Too Fast Elvis
Baz LuhrmannsElvisis the opposite of Dylans story in every way.
Warner Bros.
Its loud, fast, and absolutely packed with information.
Some scenes fly by so fast you barely have time to feel them.
It had its moments, but it struggled to find a consistent tone.
Sony Pictures
Thats the danger with trying to cover too much ground.
You end up skipping over the quiet moments that reveal character.
InA Complete Unknown, those moments are the heart of the film.
The story is not about the myth.
Its about the very real man behind it.
It doesnt pretend to tell the whole story or wrap everything up neatly.
It trusts the audience to be interested in the process, not just the product.
In doing that, it invites viewers into Dylans world in a way that feels personal and honest.
Hes basically playing a young guy wrestling with who he is and who the world wants him to be.
