Mr. Chalamet Man, Play a Song For Us

As a cinephile with over four decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Timothée Chalamet‘s transformation into Bob Dylan for James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” has me genuinely excited. Having witnessed Chalamet’s impressive acting chops in films like “Call Me by Your Name” and “Little Women,” I can only imagine the depth he will bring to this iconic role.

Actor Timothée Chalamet is transitioning from Barb to Bob, taking on the role of Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s film “A Complete Unknown,” set for release on December 25. Fans can finally witness the fruits of Chalamet’s extensive preparation, which involved listening to a 12-hour playlist of unreleased Dylan songs. “A Complete Unknown” focuses on the pivotal Newport Music Festival where Dylan switched to electric music. This event has been portrayed before in Todd Haynes’ film “I’m Not There” and, to some extent, in “Factory Girl.” However, let young Timmy serenade you instead…

Ladies and gentlemen, the trailer.

Timothée Chalamet adopts the rock-star persona and convincingly imitates Dylan’s voice. In contrast to recent trailers, his live performance of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” effectively portrays Bob Dylan’s emotionally intense journey towards stardom by offering glimpses into his tumultuous rise to fame.

What do we know so far?

By early July, I had completed filming my scenes. Snapshots reveal me, clad in sunglasses, working near a car on the set, and later seen relaxing on a bench with a book.

Earlier this year at Cannes Film Festival during the promotion of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, Mangold had shared details about an upcoming project, revealing that Benedict Cumberbatch would portray folk legend Pete Seeger in the movie. Initially, Seeger was a key figure in Bob Dylan’s fanbase, backing him before he became famous and inviting him to Newport for the first time. Nevertheless, due to scheduling issues, it appears that Edward Norton took over the role instead – and there are photographs to confirm that he played the banjo.

Who else is in the cast?

In the upcoming film “Top Gun: Maverick,” Monica Barbaro will portray Joan Baez, while Elle Fanning will take on the role of a fictionalized Dylan girlfriend from the early ’60s. Boyd Holbrook is set to emulate Johnny Cash, as per the director’s recent interview with Rolling Stone. Furthermore, Scoot McNairy, Dan Fogler, Will Harrison, Charlie Tahan, P.J. Byrne, Eli Brown, Nick Pupo, Big Bill Morganfield, Laura Kariuki, Eric Berryman, David Alan Basche, Joe Tippett, and James Austin Johnson have also been added to the cast, but their characters haven’t been specified yet. Regrettably, Austin Butler remains unconfirmed for the project.

Is Timmy really singing live?

Absolutely! In an interview with Rolling Stone, director Mangold confirmed that Timothée Chalamet and Robert Barbaro sang live as Dylan and Baez. He explained, “If one of our actors missed a note or stumbled, I didn’t have the option to use a different take or fix that single beat.” Instead, he emphasized, “If Timmy was willing to step out there and be vulnerable, then I should be brave enough to stand behind the camera and film him.” Additionally, due to several COVID-related production setbacks, Chalamet and Barbaro had ample time to refine their musical skills. Mangold shared, “Timmy was a collaborator in this project. He really wanted to participate.”

What’s the release date?

The exact release date for “A Complete Unknown” is now officially set for Christmas, which falls on December 25th. Director Mangold has expedited the post-production process to ensure its debut on that date.

2024-08-06 20:53