Last week, the Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown” was nominated for Best Picture, and its trio of actors–Timothee Chalamet, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton–were all nominated for acting awards.
What worked about “A Complete Unknown” was that it wasn’t just about Bob Dylan becoming famous, but more about who he was before all that. It wasn’t just another music biopic. It felt more personal, like you were inside his world watching him try and figure things out.
If that vibe is what got you, here are five other musical biopics (and one “sorta” biopic) that feel kind of the same.
Love & Mercy (2014)
This movie is about Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys. It doesn’t just show his successes as a famous musician. Instead, it really dives into his mind. Just like “A Complete Unknown” does with Dylan. The narrative jumps between different parts of his life, showing how he made music, but also how he struggled with his mental health. You can almost hear how the songs were made.
“Love & Mercy” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
Walk the Line (2005)
This one is about country legend Johnny Cash, and while it’s more of a generic biopic, it still has the same themes as “A Complete Unknown.” In this film, Cash is trying to find his sound and deal with fame, but also trying to figure out who he is as a person. Like Dylan, he doesn’t want to feel stuck; he’s fighting to make music his own way.
“Walk the Line” is currently streaming on Hulu.
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
So, I cheated a little with this one. “Inside Llewyn Davis” is exactly about a real person, although it is very much drawing from the life of famous folk singer Dave Van Ronk, who was one of Dylan’s contemporaries and mentors.
In terms of style and theme, this one is probably the closest to “A Complete Unknown.” It’s literally about a folk singer in the 60s trying to make it in New York, just like Dylan. But instead of being close to being a star, Llewyn is kind of stuck, playing in tiny clubs, sleeping on couches, and not really knowing what’s gonna happen next. He also chases a cat around the city. It has that same moody, lonely, artistic feel that makes you feel like you’re in the scene with him.
“Inside Llewyn Davis” is available for rent on all VOD platforms.
Nowhere Boy (2009)
This is about John Lennon before The Beatles, back when he was just a teenager. Like Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” he’s trying to figure out his own music, learning from older music artists, and dealing with personal struggles. It’s not about the superstar he became, it’s about the journey before, which is what makes them feel so similar.
“Nowhere Boy” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
The Runaways (2010)
Even though this movie is about a punk band in the 70s, it still has that same vibe of being young with a lot of expectations. In “A Complete Unknown” Dylan is trying to break out of the folk scene and do his own thing, and in “The Runaways,” Joan Jett and Cherie Currie are trying to prove they belong in rock music. Both movies have that rebellious, “I don’t care what people think” kind of vibe.
“The Runaways” is available for rent on all VOD platforms.