Dylan, a Nobel Prize winning poet, songwriter and performer, also ranks among the most enigmatic. Mangold chronicles Dylan’s Greenwich Village roots, performing in basement coffee houses, recording, forming a romantic and professional partnership with folk singer activist Joan Baez.

"Yeah, he was growing them," "A Complete Unknown" director James Mangold told Business Insider. "If you look earlier in the movie, there are some scenes where they aren't as long, but by the end, he had some full-on Nosferatu going on."

Men, race cars to rock stars, he's pulled off era-defining films in virtually every genre. Here, the powerhouse filmmaker tells us how he won over Bob Dylan and—after a five year journey—created a buzz-worthy folk-rock fable.