Oscars Buzz for Timothee Chalamet’s Bob Dylan After Early Rave Reviews

Timothee Chalamet’s turn as Bob Dylan in the upcoming film, A Complete Unknown, has received an overwhelming critical response after early screenings in Los Angeles. The performance, hailed as a “tour de force”, has critics predicting an Oscar win.

Oscars Predictions Heat Up

With just over three months to go until the Oscars are awarded, competition for the honours has been heating up. Other stars expected to earn nominations include Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, and Colman Domingo. There’s also buzz around Colin Farrell’s performance in the upcoming The Ballad of a Small Player, set in the world of Macau’s casinos. 

Directed by All Quiet on the Western Front’s Edward Berger, the film marks a stellar year for Farrell after his surprise turn in The Penguin series. The film will offer a realistic look inside Macau’s casino world, so viewers can first brush up their knowledge by playing blackjack for cash. Live dealer games are a great place to start for their immersive, realistic quality. Like Chalamet, Farrell has a reputation for his dedicated approach to roles.

Chalamet’s Dedicated Performance

After years of a gestating pre-production period, Chalamet’s turn as the iconic singer-songwriter was the result of an intensive preparation process. The actor underwent extensive research, including interviews with Bob Dylan himself. Chalamet also underwent guitar and harmonica lessons for the role and performed Dylan’s biggest hits live during filming.

A preview screening for critics in Hollywood saw reviewers heap unanimous praise on Chalamet’s “enormous power”. “Timothee Chalamet slides into Bob Dylan with an effortless yet focused determination,” according to Variety’s senior awards editor, Clayton Davis. “He is fearless in some hypnotic moments.”

In a recent interview, Chalamet said that his experience with movie stardom helped him inform his approach. He cited Dylan’s relentless ambition to become a rock star as being similar to his pursuit of acting. Dylan’s infamously coy nature is explored in the film, with one reviewer saying the film “manages to tell us everything about Bob Dylan while telling us almost nothing about Bob Dylan.”

About A Complete Unknown

Directed by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown tracks the rise of the enigmatic Dylan from his arrival in New York’s 1960s folk scene to his electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival. The film is based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, with filmmakers having unprecedented access to archival documentary footage and unreleased studio recordings.

The ensemble cast also stars Edward Norton as folk singer Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, and Elle Fanning as Sylvia, a fictionalised version of Dylan’s early girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. Monica Barbaro’s star-making portrayal of folk singer Joan Baez has also generated speculation that she could receive a Best Actress nod. Considering Reese Witherspoon received the honour in Mangold’s Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line, the film’s cast can remain hopeful.

Filming took place in New Jersey and New York in early 2024. The film is set to be released in the UK on January 17, 2025. This coincidentally is the same date the Oscars nominations are announced, so if predictions are correct, the film will likely benefit from the buzz surrounding Timothee Chalamet.