As we inch closer and closer to the end of the year, movie buffs around the globe are looking forward to watching all of the awards season releases. One of which that's receiving buzz is James Mangold's biopicA Complete Unknown, following iconic musician Bob Dylan. Mangold co-wrote the script with Jay Cocks. The film is based on the 2015 bookDylan Goes Electric!by Elijah Wald, which takes place in the 1960s. Academy Award nomineeTimothée Chalametwill portray the singer-songwriter, with a strong supporting cast consisting of Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Boyd Holbrook, Monica Barbaro, and other familiar faces.
With a stellar cast and strong writing and directing team, there's a lot of potential for greatness here. The newly-released full-length trailer, which you can watch below, seems promising, and Chalamet looks and sounds great as Dylan. Feeling excited about this one, too?A Complete Unknownhits theaters on Dec. 25, 2024.
And not only do I thinkA Complete Unknownwill be worth the watch, but it seems nearly impossible at this point that Chalamet won't be nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance. Let's break down why I'm so sure.
The Academy loves biopics
It's a known fact that the Motion Picture Academy, the organization that presents and votes on nominations and wins, favors biopics. Even if the film isn't that great, if a performance is halfway decent and it's based on a real-life person, the Oscars will be all over it. That's one of the biggest reasons I can seeA Complete Unknownbeing a favorite during the upcoming award season.
In the last decade alone, we've seen a wide variety of biographical films receive critical acclaim, Oscar nominations, and for some, even Oscar wins, includingOppenheimer,Green Book,Elvis,Bohemian Rhapsody,Spotlight,The Theory of Everything, and more. If you're playing a prominent real-life figure, there's a chance the Academy is going to be all over you. It's like there are different standards for biopics, which I don't really find fair, but in the case of Chalamet forA Complete Unknown, I'll take it.
Chalamet is overdue for his second nomination
Despite Chalamet starring in multiple acclaimed films since hisCall Me By Your Name, it's been six years since he was up for an Academy Award. In 2018, the New York native was up against Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour), Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), and Denzel Washington (Roman J. Israel, Esq.). It was a very tough category of seasoned and well-known actors, and Oldman ended up taking home the trophy — for a biopic, funny enough.
Though Chalamet has been nominated for three Golden Globes, his only Oscar nomination was for his role as Elio in the Luca Guadagnino film. And it's not because his performances after that weren't Oscar-worthy. He could've easily been nominated for his roles in movies likeBeautiful BoyorLittle Women. His supporting role in Guadagnino'sBones and Allwas also very strong, though I wouldn't expect the Academy to recognize it because of the genre.
Considering the 28-year-old actor has continued to give acclaimed performances but has not seen another Oscar nomination yet means it's time.
A Complete Unknownisn't his only movie in 2024
Another big factor in this equation is thatA Complete Unknownwill end up being Chalamet's second-biggest movie of the year, afterDune: Part Two. Chalamet returned as protagonist Paul Atreides for Denis Villeneuve's sequel, which hit theaters in March and was a box office smash. Though the first film received critical acclaim, the second is even better, now widely regarded as one of the best sci-fi movies ever. I was so pleasantly surprised at how incredible it was when I saw it in theaters (twice).
ConsideringDune: Part Onewas nominated for 10 Academy Awards at the 2022 ceremony — including Best Picture — we can assume the sequel will see nominations as well. None of the cast was nominated for Oscars for the first film, but Chalamet turns up the heat in the sequel and gives an Oscar-worthy performance. That said, I think the Academy would favorA Complete UnknownoverDune: Part Twogiven the genre, so they'll likely give him the nom for playing Bob Dylan instead of Paul Atreides.
And of course, he's very talented
Last but certainly not least is probably the biggest reason Chalamet should be up for an Academy Award this season — he deserves it! No, I have not seenA Complete Unknownyet, but I have seen plenty of his other movies and know how talented of an actor he is. Plus, it's evident from the trailer that he'll be convincing and compelling in this role. I know I sound like a fangirl (and maybe I am!) but I think it's more than fair to say that Chalamet has the skill to score him another Oscar nomination, andA Complete Unknownseems like the perfect opportunity.
At the time of this writing,Gold Derbypredicts that bothA Complete UnknownandDune: Part Twowill be nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards, along with the prediction that Chalamet will be up for Best Actor forA Complete Unknown. They list Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), and Daniel Craig (Queer) as Chalamet's potential competition.
Varietyalso predicts, currently, thatA Complete UnknownandDune: Part Twowill see Best Picture nominations, as well as Chalamet for Best Actor.
Of course, anything can happen, but it would be a major shock if Chalamet doesn't get his second nomination for the 97th Oscars ceremony.
WatchA Complete Unknownin theaters this Christmas.
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