[Only IN Hollywood] Timothée Chalamet rocks like a rolling stone as Bob Dylan
LOS ANGELES – “Thank you for your life’s work, your art, and your music.”
That’s what Timothée Chalamet would say to Bob Dylan, rock and roll icon, whom he plays in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, if they finally meet.
As I write this, Timothée has not yet met Bob, the first and only musician to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (in 2016), who began with his protest songs, including “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin,’” and tunes, now rock classics, from “Like a Rolling Stone” to “Just Like a Woman.”
No reports yet on whether the rock legend, now 83, has seen A Complete Unknown but he was quoted as saying, “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”
Bob, who joined such writers as Samuel Beckett, T.S. Elliot, and Toni Morrison when he won the Nobel honors, reportedly read the script of A Complete Unknown and gave notes to James and Timothee.
Stellar performance
Timothée’s achievement in A Complete Unknown is that he makes Bob, famously enigmatic, a fully fleshed-out human being who is still a mystery, yes, but relatable. Even when the actor’s expressive eyes are hidden by Ray Ban Caribbean sunglasses that Bob loved to wear even indoors, Timothée is a riveting presence.
What is further impressive is that the Dune star uses his own voice and sings live in the musical portions. On top of that, he actually plays the guitar and harmonica himself. Timothée, who spent years preparing for the role, learned to play those instruments during the pandemic.
Timothée’s performance earned him his fourth Golden Globe best actor nomination and may land him his second Oscars best actor nod. At 28, Timothée is one of the finest actors of his generation, and his filmography includes Call Me by Your Name, Wonka, Bones and All, and Beautiful Boy.
Based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book, Dylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknown focuses on Bob’s rise in the early 1960s, from his roots as a folk musician to his switch from acoustic to electric guitar, culminating in his controversial performance in the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
Bob’s electric set with an amplified band split the audience, with some booing and some cheering.
James also elicited memorable performances from the rest of his cast in his film which picked up a Golden Globe best picture-drama citation. Edward Norton, who plays Pete Seeger, the singer-songwriter (Where Have All the Flowers Gone?) who was Bob’s friend, mentor, and idol, got a Golden Globe best supporting actor nod.
Two actresses command as women who figured in Bob’s life in the period depicted in the film. Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez, another music icon and a social activist to this day, who had a romantic relationship with Bob.
Elle Fanning’s character is Sylvie Russo, based on Suze Rotolo, a performer who was Bob’s girlfriend. She was featured with him on the cover of the album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. She reportedly inspired some of Bob’s love songs, including Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.
I recently talked to the actor who is dating Kylie Jenner in a video interview at 5 am, LA time. He had just landed in London where he attended a screening of A Complete Unknown attended by Tom Cruise.
The following are excerpts of our interview (edited for brevity).
Congratulations on your performance in A Complete Unknown. You captured the essence of Bob Dylan. At what point, whether at rehearsals or maybe right before filming, did you feel you were ready to play a young Bob Dylan?
I don’t know if I ever felt ready. Every role is a little bit like jumping off a cliff, hoping to land in the hands of your director.
In the fortunate case here, I was working with the immensely talented James Mangold, who is very capable and has directed the fantastic music biopic Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix. He’s obviously very experienced in this kind of filmmaking.
So, I don’t know if I was ever ready but once we got going, my confidence in the role grew.
Did you know beforehand that your live vocals singing those iconic Bob Dylan songs will be kept for the final cut? And how did it feel singing live while also playing the guitar and harmonica?
No, I didn’t. It was a battle to get to sing live because it’s much safer to use the pre-records, stuff we worked on in LA in a music studio for six months. So, I didn’t know I was going to get to do it live but I felt it was important to try each time.
And it’s ultimately a battle I won because all the vocals you hear in the movie are live, the guitar playing is live, the harmonica is live, and the piano is live. It’s so much more gratifying. It makes me prouder of the work.
If you have not yet met Bob Dylan, just in case you eventually get to meet him, is there a question or are there questions that you’ve always wanted to ask him?
No, I would just say thank you. Thank you for your life’s work, your art, and your music.
Tell me about working with Edward Norton. He’s also quite something to watch in this movie.
I love working with Edward. I’ve looked up to him for years. Fight Club, Rounders. I love Edward’s performance in Birdman, the (Alejandro) Iñárritu movie.
He’s an incredibly empowered actor in that movie and very opinionated. It’s just a joy to watch. So, I loved working with Edward.
He brought authenticity and dimension to the role of Pete Seeger. He didn’t just make him like a sweet character; he brought real dimension to it.
The same goes for Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro. They were fantastic. I think everyone brought their A-game.
Let’s talk about working with James Mangold.
I love working with James, man. I felt like I was in great hands with him. He does a masterful music biopic.
He does a great superhero movie, too, like Logan or a great medical drama like Girl Interrupted and a great Western, 3:10 to Yuma. So, he’s an incredible, incredible filmmaker.
If you could do another film on a real-life figure, who would that be and why?
Good question. Now I’ve got no clue. I got no idea, man.
Well, Timothée, thank you so much.
Good to see you again. Yeah.
– Rappler.com