‘A Complete Unknown’ First Reactions Praise Timothée Chalamet For “Performance Of The Year” As Bob Dylan

Unlike Bob Dylan‘s decision to go electric, Timothée Chalamet‘s portrayal of the folk music legend appears to be a hit.

Following an early screening of the James Mangold-helmed biopic A Complete Unknown, which premieres Dec. 25 in US theaters and Jan. 17 in the UK, Chalamet is earning Oscar buzz as audiences rave on social media that the film is “nothing short of brilliance.”

“Timothée Chalamet delivers the performance of the year in A Complete Unknown,” wrote film journalist Scott Menzel on X. “A true tour-de-force where Chalamet is never seen. Chalamet’s performance is not just about the voice and look but rather all of the little nuances and mannerisms that he perfectly brings to his life in his portrayal of Bob Dylan. Great supporting performances too from Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger.”

Clayton Davis wrote on the platform, “Timothée Chalamet slides into Bob Dylan with an effortless yet focused determination in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. Fearless in some hypnotic moments. For me, it’s Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning that anchor the story of an illusive, mysterious man that remains in that sphere. James Mangold helms with confidence, with gorgeous sets and costumes. Much respect to one of the best to do it.”

“Not a fan of folk music and A Complete Unknown is superb and shockingly moving,” wrote Gregory Ellwood. “Timothée is fantastic. Monica Barbaro is incredible. We need a Joan Baez spin off movie.”

But not everyone was a fan, with David Poland writing on X, “A Complete Unknown manages to tell us everything about Bob Dylan while telling us almost nothing about Bob Dylan. Some would say that was the target. The movie is ultimately about the power of the individual and talent and how what we all want can turn on a dime, repeatedly. Chalamet brings enormous power to this portrait of a man who just keeps leaving but then also keeps delivering surprises. Edward Norton’s turn is perfectly true to Seeger. Monica [Barbaro] delivers a Baez of many facets, from fire to ice. And Elle Fanning is destined to be underrated in a complex turn as ‘the first NY girlfriend.’ I really need to see it again to fully negotiate all that is there and all that is not there by design.”

Based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric, A Complete Unknown follow’s Dylan’s arrival in 1960s New York City at age 19, where he forms intimate connections amid his rise to fame, making a controversial splash in the folk movement.

The movie also stars Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie.