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Timothée Chalamet Performs 40 Bob Dylan Songs Live in A Complete Unknown
Nov
Timothée Chalamet fully embodies Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, performing an impressive 40 songs live throughout the film. In a newly released featurette, producer Fred Berger and Chalamet share insights into the actor’s dedication to authentically portraying the folk music legend.
“There are 40 songs in the movie that he performs — on guitar, on harmonica, and singing live take after take after take,” Berger reveals.
Chalamet emphasized the importance of live performances, explaining, “If I can actually do it, why should there be an element of artifice here? And I’m proud that we took that leap.”
A Journey Through Dylan’s Rise
Directed by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown chronicles Bob Dylan‘s rise in New York City’s 1960s folk scene and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. The film also explores Dylan’s relationships with figures like Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook).
Chalamet’s commitment to performing live was matched by his co-stars, who also sang and played their own instruments. Norton, who plays Dylan’s mentor Pete Seeger, said, “Getting to learn and play the music itself was a huge hook for me.”
Holbrook, portraying Johnny Cash, brought his own energy to the role, with Chalamet noting, “Boyd somehow made it his own, it feels just as authentic and true as Johnny Cash.”
A Love Triangle and a Turbulent Time
The biopic doesn’t just focus on Dylan’s musical journey. It delves into his personal life, including a love triangle involving Joan Baez (Barbaro) and pre-fame girlfriend Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning).
Fanning praised Chalamet’s dedication, saying, “I had goosebumps. You can see how much love and how hard he’s worked and how much he cares about getting this right.” Barbaro echoed these sentiments, marveling at Chalamet’s ability to take on a film’s worth of performances.
Authentic Music and Period Details
The production aimed for period authenticity, using microphones, instruments, and recording techniques from the era. Sound mixer Tod Maitland described the unique approach: “We’ve done the movie a hundred percent live — no earpiece, no timing mechanism or anything.”
Mangold explained the film’s goal of creating an unvarnished portrayal of music and relationships. “It’s a movie about music that is unadorned and authentic,” he said. “It’s about how these characters affected each other and rose together to stardom in a turbulent moment in the country.”
A Complete Unknown Hits Theaters Christmas Day
Set to release on December 25, 2024, A Complete Unknown is poised to offer a deeply authentic and intimate look at Bob Dylan’s formative years, brought to life by Chalamet’s transformative performance and the dedication of the entire cast. Fans can expect a heartfelt exploration of music, relationships, and the impact of artistry during a pivotal time in history.
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