When the film starts, Timothée Chalamet plays 19-year-old Bob Dylan arriving in NYC in 1961. He soon meets his musical idols, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), which serves as his entrée into the folk music scene. This film details his life from that beginning thru his quick rise to fame, concluding with the controversial Newport Folk Festival concert, when he introduced his “electric” band. Speaking of concerts, this is a half-concert. Chalamet sings most of Dylan’s popular songs from that period, some of them in full length. (All of the actors who play singers in the film did their own work.) Meanwhile, Chalamet creates a character who grows and changes with impressive skill…another deeply incisive creation. As his mentor, Norton also turns in a fine performance. The details of Dylan’s life and romance are addressed, but not with much depth. Even so, director James Mangold has managed to give us an enthralling glimpse into this icon and his early life.
BTW, I saw this in Movieland’s new Cinema 6 with recliners, a giant new wall-to-wall screen and Dolby Atmos, which creates a more immersive sound experience. 
(4.5 / 5)
