The Resurgence of Bob Dylan

Words by Paige Fulkerson

A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, was released on Christmas Day just last month and has already created a prominent and demanding resurgence of Bob Dylan. With lead actor on the project Timothee Chalamet, the film brought in not only Bob Dylan, folk and music fans but also modern cinema, alternative and Chalamet fans alike. The casting of Chalamet was not only a great choice based on his looks alone, but it is clear that he brought in an even wider audience to see the movie. His character targets a market that a Bob Dylan biopic may not have reached otherwise.

Chalamet had his start in indie films touching on subjects of queerness, drug addiction and young love. After stepping into the sci-fi world of Dune, A Complete Unknown was something a little less serious for Chalamet to be the star of and something all the more dedicated and timeless to be the face of. Chalamet earned the role of Bob Dylan five years ago and has immersed himself in the world of Bob ever since, much like what fans have been doing since watching A Complete Unknown in theaters.

I saw the movie at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday and failed to realize that I would be the youngest audience member. The man sitting next to me in the theater laughed out loud and gasped at certain parts of the movies I felt to have no impact. I truly believe he was reliving some part of his life or grasping some knowledge stuck in a deep corner of his mind from the 60s that I couldn’t connect with as a 20-year-old. But, he might’ve also been the same guy to say that Timothee Chalamet wasn’t the right guy for the role. In my and many others’ opinions, Chalamet was born to play Dylan and the Dylan biopic would simply be just an idea without him. 

Not only does the film introduce Dylan to a new audience within 2025 media, but it also introduces the other important faces of folk music in the 60s. Chalamet stars alongside Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash. The whole cast seems to have played their prospective characters beautifully capturing the magic of the lyrics and instruments of folk in the mid-60s. Special mention to Holbrook for playing a wonderful Cash, debatably better than Joaquin Phoenix’s Cash in Walk the Line directed by the very same James Mangold. 

Today’s music is highly reflective of pop and alternative influence while folk and bluegrass have taken a significant step back since the 60s. The timing of A Complete Unknown, not only in Chalamet’s career but in Generation Z’s lives, was perfect. Through not only the influence of Bob Dylan but Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, folk music has re-surged through my generation and flooded my timeline. It’s a sound of generational beauty that I fear many in my generation have not had the chance to experience yet. 

While our parents and grandparents might be able to recognize the importance of Bob Dylan, I fear not many in my generation would’ve been able to name a single song of Dylan’s before A Complete Unknown was released. This film would’ve been loved regardless, but I think a great handful of viewers were brought in simply by the fact that Timothee Chalamet was the leading actor. They may have come for Chalamet’s performance, but they left with a love and curiosity for Bob Dylan. 

While the film takes place between 1961 and 1965, arguably one of Dylan’s most iconic eras, fans are slowly realizing that Dylan has released over 600 songs. The deep dive into Bob Dylan’s music is a long one, and starting at the era where the movie takes place is a great place to start, but without the movies, you could easily be lost in the sauce, per se.

I hope that new fans take the time to go through Dylan’s discography and find which era of Dylan is their favorite and which sound they can call their own. For me, as renowned as Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde are, Bringing It All Back Home has proven to be my favorite album, an earlier yet electric version of Bob.

If you need some insight on where to start with Dylan’s discography, I suggest starting where the movie starts: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), The Times They Are a-Changin’ (1964) and Another Side of Bob Dylan. Or, if you’re inspired by the electric Bob Dylan we see at the end of the movie, you should listen to Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde On Blonde (1966). Moving out of the 1960s, I suggest Blood On The Tracks (1975) and Desire (1976), but please don’t stop there. While Spotify and Apple Music are a great way to listen, I suggest you try to channel your inner 60s vibes and head to a record store and grab whatever Dylan record you can get your hands on. None of them are bad and luckily with Bob Dylan’s music, the opportunities are endless.