Watched Jan 5, 2025
I wish they had taken the scrapped the first half and expanded the second half, slowing down a bit to savor some of the plot points more deeply. The second half breathes life into yet another biopic centered on the romantic life of its star. The rich commentary on the folk music scene, competing cults of personality (especially where money-making is involved), and the pursuit of self-actualization by way of freedom all feel more lived in within the portions of this movie starting at 1965 and going onward. That transition might be my favorite: Chalamet gives a certain vibe akin to Beyoncé in her music video for “Jealous” and I love that. Ultimately, this late stage richness isn’t enough to overwrite the lingering on Dylan’s love life in the first half, especially given his general apathy toward all things that love him. I’m impressed at Chalamet’s vocals; which is surprisingly unsurprising — he’s had quality there if not just misused in the Wonka. I do wish the background story of race and civil rights had been brought more into the foreground, instead of the ham-fisted acknowledgments. That said, a better biopic than I’ve maybe ever seen.