The reviews are in, and it looks like the newest biopic about Bob Dylan’s life is gaining quite favorable reviews. One such review comes from none other than Bob Dylan’s contemporary, Neil Young.
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Neil Young recently praised the 2024 biopic A Complete Unknown, which was directed by James Mangold and stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan.
“I love Bob Dylan and his music,” said Neil Young via his website in a short and sweet message. “Always have. He’s a great artist. Once he was on my bus and I didn’t recognize him and threw him off but that’s another story. This movie is a great tribute to his life and music. I think if you love Bob’s music you should see this great movie. I loved it.”
Young isn’t the only one to sing the film’s praises. Bob Dylan himself played a role in developing the biopic’s script, and even praised actor Timothée Chalamet’s performance as him. Just as well, the film already has quite favorable reviews on aggregate sites like Letterboxd.
Are Bob Dylan and Neil Young Friends?
Outside of Neil Young’s glowing review of A Complete Unknown and his kind words for Bob Dylan’s music, it’s not clear if the two folk rock legends are tight-nit friends. However, they have crossed paths quite a few times through the years.
The two first shared the stage together back in the late 1970s, where they performed a stunning rendition of “I Shall Be Released” for the Martin Scorsese concert film The Last Waltz. That performance was held as a farewell concert for the famed roots rock outfit The Band.
Their collaborations didn’t stop there. As recently as 2023, Bob Dylan made a surprise appearance at Neil Young’s famed Farm Aid event, which annually features a whole host of performances from rock and country musicians to raise money for family farmers in the United States.
Some might be wondering if some sort of depiction of Young appears in A Complete Unknown. Unfortunately, Young fans might be a bit disappointed to hear that Young is not featured in the biopic. A Complete Unknown is set in the 1960s and focuses specifically on Dylan’s early career before performing his legendary set at Newport Folk Fest in 1965.
Either way, if Neil Young says the film is good, it’s probably good! A Complete Unknown is currently still in theaters across the US.
Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images
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