Movies

Timothée Chalamet sings as Bob Dylan in biopic trailer, divides the internet

BBG News

As a long-time movie critic with a deep appreciation for music biopics, I’ve seen my fair share of on-screen transformations. But the recently released teaser trailer for James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, has left me both intrigued and divided.

As a movie enthusiast who’s been eagerly following news about films for over a year now, I was thrilled to wake up on Wednesday and find that Searchlight Pictures had dropped the first teaser trailer for James Mangold’s upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” After months of paparazzi photos from the set and countless red carpet interviews, it felt like a rewarding payoff to finally get a glimpse into this highly-anticipated production.

Instead of merely demonstrating his physical change into the music legend, it also provided a brief preview of his vocal abilities. The performer sang Bob Dylan’s 1963 anti-war ballad “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” sparking debate on social media, just as his initial casting news had done.

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Jamie Campbell Bower, an actor from “Stranger Things” and a devoted fan of Dylan, expressed his backing for Timothée Chalamet on social media platform X.

“I, with Bob Dylan ink on my bottom, can confidently express my immense enthusiasm for Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan based on the trailer.”

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Mangold (the director and co-writer) praised Chalamet’s acting skills and his aptitude for portraying Dylan.

He added, “At times, it seemed as if a force was flowing through me, not just imitating but truly experiencing the sensation.”

Chalamet fan account Club Chalamet shared its support for the star on X.

“Oscar pundits, start adding Timothée Chalamet to your predictions! Wow!” the fan page wrote.

Some users were not entirely convinced by the “Dune” star’s singing.

“I’m sorry but that is just not bob dylan. that is timothee chalamet,” one user wrote.

Another user echoed the same sentiment.

As a movie buff, I can tell you that the singer’s voice is pleasing to the ear. But once they begin to speak, I find myself feeling underwhelmed and thinking, “That’s really just Timothée Chalamet.” I’m left unimpressed.

In the trailer, Chalamet speaks sparingly. He merely comments, “That’s all I have for now,” following his performance of “A Hard Rain” for his loved ones.

During his conversation with Rolling Stone, Mangold explicitly stated that Chalamet didn’t aim to copy Dylan’s mannerisms.

He acknowledged that some people may believe we’re striving for a flawless imitation of human speech and appearance. However, this is not achievable using human bodies. Instead, our goal should be to convey the emotional depth of characters, as movies excel at doing so. Yet, it’s still only my interpretation of their emotions.

Mangold has experience with musical biographies. In 2005, “Walk the Line” was released, where Joaquin Phoenix portrayed country musician Johnny Cash. His compelling performance brought him an Academy Award nomination. Moreover, Phoenix sang in the film himself.

According to Mangold, the teaser trailer only gives a taste of Chalamet’s acting skills. To truly appreciate his performance, audiences must watch the entire film.

Mangold expressed his admiration for the actor’s superb acting skills in subtly developing the character, which may go unnoticed in trailers, teasers, or photos.

“One X user commented that they liked the trailer, sharing, ‘It brings to mind Joaquin Phoenix’s unique take on Johnny Cash’s voice – still captivating.'”

“Timothée Chalamet interprets Bob Dylan’s songs in a unique way, not by mimicking him, but by baring his own vulnerability and skillfully expressing deep emotions,” the user wrote. “I’m left in awe.”

“‘A Star is Born’ isn’t Timothée Chalamet’s initial musical experience. In the previous year, he took on the role of Willy Wonka in the prequel “Wonka,” which unfolds before the incidents of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.””

“A Complete Stranger” – this film hits theaters in December. It tells the story of a folk legend’s rise to fame, starting with their 1961 move from Minnesota to New York City. Monica Barbaro portrays Joan Baez, Elle Fanning embodies Sylvie Russo, and Edward Norton takes on the role of Pete Seeger in the production. Boyd Holbrook, P. J. Byrne, Scoot McNairy, Dan Fogler, and Will Harrison join them in bringing this cast to life.

Among the numerous music biopic films set to be released in the coming years, the movie in question joins the ranks, featuring stories on artists such as Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, and Michael Jackson.

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2024-07-26 14:03

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