James Mangold is following up his 2023 blockbusterIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinywith a smaller but just as ambitious project:A Complete Unknown. The biopic, which centers around music icon Bob Dylan during the early days of his career, is already receiving awards season buzz in no small part thanks to the lead performances ofTimothée Chalametand Monica Barbaro, who play Bob Dylan and Joan Baez respectively. After his incredibly compelling role inDune: Part Two, it’s impressive to see the actor delivering yet another landmark performance in the same year.
However, for those who think Mangold’s casting of Timothée Chalamet as the legendary folk singer is unconventional, hisDuneco-starOscar Isaacwould agree. That is until he experienced Chalamet’s creative process with the character firsthand. According to a report fromVarietyat the Gotham Awards, theDuneactor (who plays Chalamet’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, in the Denis Villeneuve sci-fi film) and some of his otherDuneco-stars (Josh Brolin & Stephen McKinley Henderson) were apprehensive about the young actor as Bob Dylan, to say the least, with Issac saying:
“My first thought was… sounds like a really bad idea. I mean, it’s Dylan. It’s the holy of holies for me. It just didn’t sound right. Then, Timmy takes out his guitar. Not a good sign."
Oscar Isaac Witnessed Timothée Chalamet Connect to His Bob Dylan Role
Despite Oscar Isaac’s initial incredulous start to his story, the actor would explain the surreal experience ofwatching Chalamet prepare for the rolewhile in production onDune. Isaac would describe how he and his grizzled co-stars' skepticism was quickly replaced by awe at Chalamet’s way of discovering how he would portray Bob Dylan, saying:
“Josh, Stephen and I aren’t your average Timmy groupies. We’re grizzled movie vets; we’ve seen some s***. But to hear this kid, who had just started learning the guitar, who hadn’t done much singing, and who wasn’t all that familiar with Dylan’s music, approach these songs not as if he was learning something new but remembering something he’d already known, just rediscovering… The three of us just sat there watching this young man connect with something mysterious.”
Scoot McNairy Praises A Complete Unknown Co-Star Timothée Chalamet: ‘An Exceptional Performance’
The ever-busy actor spoke to MovieWeb leading up to the release of Speak No Evil, which sees McNairy facing off against a maniacal James McAvoy.
Oscar Isaac isn’t a stranger to folk music, starring in the Coen Brother’s filmInside Llewyn Davis, which centered heavily around that specific music genre as it helped push the narrative forward. So, having Isaac’s seal of approval is some of the highest praise that Chalamet could get for his performance of arguably one of the most famous folk singers ever.
Initial reactions toA Complete Unknownhave praised Chalamet’s performance, calling it Oscar-worthy, among other things. This isn’t the first time Mangold has directed a musical biopic, either. He previously directedWalk The Lineand cast Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, proving that the director has a knack for seeing legendary musicians in talented actors. For those who are excited about seeing Chalamet channel his inner Bob Dylan,A Complete Unknownhas a wide release date of December 25th.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
