Hollywood’s Snub of ‘A Complete Unknown’ –  How the Academy’s Disdain for Bob Dylan Led to an Unprecedented Shutout at the Oscars

Hollywood’s Snub of ‘A Complete Unknown’ –  How the Academy’s Disdain for Bob Dylan Led to an Unprecedented Shutout at the Oscars

Edited by: TJVNews.com

The 2025 Academy Awards were expected to be a triumphant night for ‘A Complete Unknown’, James Mangold’s ambitious biopic chronicling the early rise of Bob Dylan. With eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nods for Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, and Edward Norton, the film seemed poised to sweep multiple categories. Yet, by the end of the evening, it had failed to win a single award—a stunning and, for many, a highly suspicious outcome.

The film’s loss wasn’t merely a case of strong competition. Instead, it appears to be a reflection of a deep-seated bias within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences against Bob Dylan himself. This rejection raises serious questions about Hollywood’s tendency to snub figures who refuse to conform to its ideological expectations, even when their artistic impact is undeniable.

From the moment ‘A Complete Unknown’ premiered, critics and audiences alike were enamored with Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan. His dedication to the role—learning to play guitar in Dylan’s style, nailing the folk legend’s vocal quirks, and even performing all of the film’s music live—was widely regarded as one of the most immersive performances of the year.

Fans anticipated that Chalamet would walk away with the Oscar for Best Actor since he won the Screen Actors Guild award for his role as Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’ just a week ago. However, the Academy instead awarded the prize to Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, a performance that, while well-regarded, had not generated nearly as much buzz.

For many observers, the decision seemed less about merit and more about ensuring that Dylan—and by extension, ‘A Complete Unknown’—was kept out of the winner’s circle. The Academy, which often favors actors who portray historical figures, had no issue awarding Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody or Austin Butler for Elvis. But when it came to Bob Dylan, the rules suddenly seemed different.

Beyond Chalamet’s loss, the film suffered in the supporting categories as well. Monica Barbaro’s depiction of Joan Baez—both tender and heart-wrenching—was ignored in favor of Zoe Saldaña’s role in Emilia Pérez. Edward Norton, whose portrayal of Pete Seeger brought both warmth and ideological tension to the film, was bested by Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain).

James Mangold, a seasoned filmmaker who had already proven his ability to craft compelling music biopics with Walk the Line, lost Best Director to Sean Baker (Anora). Some could argue that Baker’s independent, neo-realist approach made him a deserving winner, but the total absence of recognition for Mangold’s carefully constructed vision of Dylan’s rise suggests a calculated snub.

Considering ‘A Complete Unknown’s’ nominations in multiple categories, its failure to secure even a single Oscar is more than a statistical anomaly—it appears to be a statement.

At the heart of this Oscar shutout is a troubling question: Why does the Academy have such an aversion to Bob Dylan?

Unlike other musical legends who have been the subjects of lauded biopics, Dylan has never played by Hollywood’s rules. He refused to be a poster child for the counterculture movement, resisted attempts to make his art purely political, and has always prioritized artistic evolution over industry approval.

In 2016, when Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, he didn’t immediately acknowledge it, causing frustration among those who expected him to bow to institutional recognition. Even when he did accept the honor, his speech was ambiguous, reinforcing the idea that he was never seeking validation from the establishment.

Hollywood, which thrives on rewarding those who play the game, has long had an uneasy relationship with Dylan’s refusal to conform. His music is deeply influential, but his personal philosophy—marked by independence, ambiguity, and resistance to categorization—doesn’t fit neatly within the ideological mold of today’s Academy voters.

This extends beyond Dylan himself to how ‘A Complete Unknown’ approached his story. Unlike many modern biopics, the film didn’t try to frame Dylan as an activist or a revolutionary. Instead, it focused on his personal artistic journey, depicting him as a restless, enigmatic artist rather than a clear-cut hero of any one movement. That alone might have been enough to alienate an Academy that increasingly favors films with overt political messaging.

The Oscars have always been political, but in recent years, the bias has become more overt. Films and performances that do not align with prevailing ideological trends are often ignored in favor of narratives that reinforce certain social and political messages.

Bob Dylan, despite his immense cultural influence, doesn’t fit into a neat ideological box. He has never allowed himself to be fully claimed by the left or the right. His legacy is one of complexity, contradiction, and artistic reinvention—qualities that challenge Hollywood’s preference for easily digestible, one-dimensional storytelling.

By shutting out ‘A Complete Unknown,’ the Academy may have sent a message that some figures, no matter how impactful, will never be embraced unless they fit a predetermined narrative. The rejection of the film isn’t just an insult to Dylan’s legacy; it’s a troubling indication of how modern Hollywood rewards compliance over authenticity.

The Academy’s refusal to recognize ‘A Complete Unknown’ wasn’t just a surprise—it was a deliberate act of exclusion. While it may be tempting to write off the film’s losses as the result of tough competition, the pattern is too glaring to ignore. Hollywood has always had a complicated relationship with artists who refuse to conform, and Dylan, the ultimate nonconformist, was never going to be welcomed with open arms.

However, as history has shown, awards do not define an artist’s legacy. Dylan’s music has already outlasted countless Oscar-winning films, and ‘A Complete Unknown’ will likely find its audience despite the Academy’s snub. In the end, the film’s shutout only reinforces the very ethos that has defined Dylan’s career—one of independence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to artistic truth.