Look out kid: ecstatic reactions to Bob Dylan biopic mean Timothée Chalamet may break Oscars record

Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s biographical film on Bob Dylan, concluded filming five months prior. Subsequently, the studio responsible for the film advanced its release date to this Christmas, thereby positioning it for consideration in next year’s Oscars.

This faith appears to have been justified, as the film received enthusiastic reviews on social media following an early screening in Hollywood this week. “Timothée Chalamet seamlessly embodies Bob Dylan with a blend of effortless grace and concentrated resolve,” stated Clayton Davis, senior awards editor at Variety. “He exhibits fearlessness during certain hypnotic instances.”

Reviewer David Poland lauded Chalamet’s “enormous power,” while Gregory Ellwood described the picture as “superb” and “shockingly moving,” stating, “Chalamet is fantastic.”

Chalamet “provides the performance of the year,” remarked fellow critic Scott Menzel. “The film is an authentic tour de force … Chalamet’s performance encompasses not just his voice and appearance but also the subtle subtleties and quirks he adeptly embodies.

If victorious at the Oscars in March, Chalamet would surpass Adrien Brody’s 2003 record for the youngest leading actor award by 268 days. Brody was 29 years and 343 days old at the time of his victory; Chalamet will be 29 years and 75 days old.

Brody, the recipient of an award for The Pianist, will be a principal contender against Chalamet this awards season for his portrayal of a Holocaust survivor in the epic drama The Brutalist. Other highly regarded contenders are Colman Domingo for the prison narrative Sing Sing, and Ralph Fiennes for the papal thriller Conclave.