For the last few years, Searchlight has been making a splash at the awards season with films that range from typical fall releases to unique ones. A Complete Unknown is probably a more secure choice when it comes to Oscar-bait films.
And now, a new behind the scene featurette was just released, giving fans insight into the project. It includes clips of Timothée Chalamet singing Dylan classics like “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and “Like A Rolling Stone,” which he performed live during filming.
“It was important for me to play and sing on set because it was in the spirit of the movie to do it live,” Chalamet says, with music supervisor Steven Gizicki adding, “He learns the entire thing top to bottom. That’s harmonica and guitar and vocals. It’s pretty special.”
Timothée Chalamet’s dedication to live singing and playing instruments was shown in a new behind-the-scenes featurette, ensuring that no one will win awards for lip-syncing. Singing live on set has become a reality since Les Miserables made it real in 2012, but it rarely contributes anything to the film. James Mangold provides a solid basis for trusting A Complete Unknown.
New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. As he forms his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement and, refusing to be defined, makes a controversial choice that culturally reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.
A Complete Unknown stars Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, and Scoot McNairy. It is directed by James Mangold and produced by Fred Berger, Alex Heineman, Peter Jaysen, Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Jeff Rosen, Timothée Chalamet, and James Mangold. A Complete Unknown will be released in theaters on December 25th.