Timothée Chalamet, the young actor known for his roles in films like “Call Me By Your Name” and “Lady Bird,” has taken on one of the most iconic figures in music history – Bob Dylan. In the new biopic “A Complete Unknown,” which premiered in New York last week, Chalamet plays a fictionalized version of Dylan, exploring the musician’s arrival in New York as a teenager and his ascent through the Greenwich Village music scene.
Chalamet, who has been praised for his performance, has spent five years working with a harmonica coach to nail the singer’s mannerisms. The film, directed by James Mangold, also stars Elle Fanning as a fictionalized version of Dylan’s girlfriend Suze Rotolo and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger.
The movie is based on the 2015 book “Dylan Goes Electric!” by Elijah Wald and recounts the years leading up to Dylan’s polarizing performance with electric instruments at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The film has already earned Chalamet a Golden Globe nomination and has been praised for its performances, particularly from Fanning.
When asked about her favorite lyric from “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” Fanning discussed the period’s parallels to the present day, saying that Dylan’s willingness to take risks revolutionized music forever. Meanwhile, Norton reflected on the significance of the film, stating that he admires Dylan’s commitment to letting his work speak for itself.
Chalamet has been hailed as a brilliant young actor by Bob Dylan himself, who posted an endorsement of Chalamet on X last week. The biopic joins a crowded field of projects based on Dylan’s life, including “No Direction Home” and “I’m Not There.” With its talented cast and engaging story, “A Complete Unknown” is set to captivate audiences and cement Chalamet’s status as one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/style/timothee-chalamet-a-complete-unknown-premiere-photos.html