MOVIE NEWS – Following a trio of Golden Globe nominations, the review embargo for the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has been lifted. The film is receiving positive reviews, with critics particularly praising Timothée Chalamet’s performance, which many believe could earn him his second Academy Award nomination.
Currently, A Complete Unknown holds a solid 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 50 reviews. A number of critics have highlighted Chalamet’s transformative performance, with David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter stating, “It shares many strengths with [Walk the Line] but has different weaknesses, though Timothée Chalamet’s electrifying lead performance is not one of them.” Paul McGuire Grimes from Paul’s Trip to the Movie also praises Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan, saying, “Timothée Chalamet delivers an outstanding performance as Dylan. I never felt like he was simply transforming or impersonating, but rather channeling Dylan through his own being.” Meanwhile, Chris Hewitt of the Minneapolis Star Tribune remarked, “Chalamet, whose range and confidence continue to expand, is sensational as Dylan. While he shares some of the singer’s lightness, he doesn’t look or sound much like him. Yet, he captures an essence that makes us believe.”
Not all critics were as impressed with the film. Palmer Haasch of Business Insider noted, “A Complete Unknown excels when it lets the music, brought to life through live performances, stand on its own. However, the film overlooks both character and history, losing the connections that would truly give it depth.” Jonathan Sim from ComingSoon.net criticized the film as being “plain,” stating, “At the start, Bob Dylan says, ‘You can be beautiful or you can be ugly. But you can’t be plain.’ I wholeheartedly agree, because A Complete Unknown is one of the most uninspiring biopics I’ve seen in a while.” Kevin Maher of Times (UK) didn’t enjoy the movie, though he didn’t attribute the film’s shortcomings to Chalamet, writing, “The failure of this trivial and lackluster Bob Dylan biopic is not Timothée Chalamet’s fault.”
Timothée Chalamet Could Be On His Way to a Second Academy Award Nomination
Despite mixed reviews, none of them seem to question Chalamet’s performance, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama, thanks to his exceptional portrayal of the iconic folk singer and songwriter. His castmates have also praised his dedication to the role, mentioning how he cut himself off from all distractions to fully immerse himself in Dylan. Edward Norton, who co-stars with Chalamet, recently commented on Chalamet’s commitment, and he too received a Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role as Pete Seeger.
Chalamet is expected to receive his second Academy Award nomination, following his previous Best Actor nomination for Call Me by Your Name, a film that helped kickstart a career already filled with exceptional performances before he even turned 30. He’s undoubtedly one of the finest actors of his generation, and A Complete Unknown serves as yet another brilliant example of his talent.
Directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks, A Complete Unknown is based on Elijah Wald’s book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties. The film focuses on Dylan’s controversial decision to adopt electric instruments. Alongside Chalamet and Norton, the cast includes Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, and Scoot McNairy.
Source: MovieWeb
