It looks like Timothée Chalamet’s methods to completely channel Bob Dylan while filming A Complete Unknown really paid off. It was recently reported that the actor fully immersed himself in the role and now that the film has had some of its first press screenings, word is beginning to hit social media, and it looks like Chalamet could be looking at receiving the second Oscar nomination of his career.
Chalamet is receiving universal praise for his turn as the iconic singer-songwriter, with Scott Menzel, founder of the Astra Awards, saying:
“Timothée Chalamet delivers the performance of the year in A Complete Unknown. A true tour-de-force where Chalamet is never seen. Chalamet’s performance is not just about the voice and look but rather all of the little nuances and mannerisms that he perfectly brings to his life in his portrayal of Bob Dylan.”
Clayton Davis, Senior Awards Editor at Variety, stated, “Timothée Chalamet slides into Bob Dylan with an effortless yet focused determination in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. Fearless in some hypnotic moments.” This is echoed by Jonathan P. Moustakas, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of The Cinema Group, who raves, “Timothée Chalamet’s performance in ‘A Complete Unknown’ is nothing short of transformative. He becomes Dylan, disappearing completely into the man behind the music.”
While Chalamet is getting the bulk of the acknowledgment, several early notices also say that awards season watchers should also pay close attention to Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning in the film, who portray Joan Baez and Sylvie Russo, respectively. Abe Friedtanzer of Cinema Daily states, “Monica Barbaro steals the show as Joan Baez,” while Variety’s Davis also mentions, “For me, it’s Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning that anchor the story of an illusive, mysterious man that remains in that sphere.” Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist also praises Barbaro, going on to say, “Monica Barbaro is incredible. We need a Joan Baez spin off movie.” You can check out more of the first reactions below!
The Early Reactions to ‘A Complete Unknown’ Validate Timothée Chalamet’s Process
The early reactions to A Complete Unknown give validation to all the hard work that was put into it, particularly by Chalamet, who stripped away every bit of himself to portray Dylan accurately. Chalamet’s co-stars, including Fanning, Barbaro, and Edward Norton, all recently said that the actor was the popular folk singer on set, with Norton specifically saying that he cut himself off from all distractions so that he may be authentic to his character and the film’s story.
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Scoot McNairy Praises A Complete Unknown Co-Star Timothée Chalamet: ‘An Exceptional Performance’
The ever-busy actor spoke to MovieWeb leading up to the release of Speak No Evil, which sees McNairy facing off against a maniacal James McAvoy.
For his part, Chalamet wanted to be transported back to a time when he was emerging as a talent to watch during the release of 2017’s Call Me by Your Name, a film that earned him an Oscar nomination. The actor remembered that no one really knew who he was back then, so they paid close attention to the film and his character, rather than his process. He was also free of the celebrity status that had now become attached to him as one of the best actors of his generation.
Directed by James Mangold from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jay Cocks, A Complete Unknown is based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, which chronicles the controversy surrounding Dylan making the switch to electrically amplified instrumentation. The film also stars Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy.
A Complete Unknown hits screens on Dec. 25.
Source: X