Last year ended with several promising cinematic works. “Wicked,” “The Six Triple Eight,” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” all received critical acclaim. Other movies like “Emilia Pérez” and “Y2K” failed to live up to their pre-release hype. However, two movies in particular stood out: “A Complete Unknown” and “Nosferatu.”
“A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, is the Bob Dylan biopic based on the book “Dylan Goes Electric!” by Elijah Wald. This movie, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, is a portrait of Bob Dylan and his career from his folk origins up to his controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. This movie has a runtime of over two hours, yet it never fails to keep the audience engaged. The acting is great from all sides, even smaller characters like Scoot McNairy as the mute Woody Guthrie make the movie a triumph. The singing for Dylan, done entirely by Chalamet, also shines. The cinematography emphasizes orange tones and close shots that give the movie an intimate feel. “A Complete Unknown” is a stunning movie inside and out, from the acting to the singing to the perfect harmonica interludes.
“Nosferatu,” Robert Eggers’ latest film, is a reimagining of the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” directed by F.W. Murnau. It follows newlyweds Thomas and Ellen Hutter as their lives become plagued by sorrows after Hutter signs a contract with the feared Count Orlock. I had my doubts about this movie but those doubts were expelled within the first ten minutes. The tone of the movie is dread, pure dread that doesn’t rely on jump scares or cheap effects. Lily-Rose Depp, who, after watching “The Idol” I had mixed feelings about, gave a chilling and believable performance as the frequently possessed Ellen Hutter. Likewise, Bill Skarsgård as the titular character Count Orlok brought true terror and fear to the screen. Eggers’ movies are highly stylistic and “Nosferatu’s” color palette is drained, with the wintry setting bleaching the world of color. Although the task of remaking a beloved classic, especially one so revered, can be a daunting one, Eggers rose to the occasion in the magnificent “Nosferatu.”
“A Complete Unknown” and “Nosferatu” have little to do with each other, (besides being released on the same day) both films stood out as cinematic masterpieces this year. While I am excited to see what Academy Awards may await these two films, I know no award will match the legacy these two films will leave behind.
