Edward Norton on Playing a Folk Legend, and Foil to the Hero, in ‘A Complete Unknown’: ‘Pete Seeger’s Integrity Can Coexist With Dylan’s — I Love the Lack of Judgment in This Film’
variety.comChris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic “Edward Norton is Pete Seeger.” How likely was it that much of the moviegoing world would be thinking or saying those words at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025?
Or that Norton’s portrayal in the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” would even be leading younger generations to find out more about who Seeger was?
Some moviegoers consider Seeger the most sympathetic character in this ensemble piece — even if he is the one with the biggest vested interest in keeping the hero from expressing himself in the loud and brash way the audience is hoping and waiting for.
In this Q&A, Norton, who looms large in the awards conversation this year, talks about why he had reservations about tackling real-life material that he felt might be “too sacrosanct,” and what filmmaker James Mangold said to change his way of thinking.
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