The sort of plodding Oscar season got itself a jolt the last few days.
Into the mix comes Timothee Chalamet, singing and playing guitar in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan movie, “A Complete Unknown.”
The Searchlight film doesn’t open until December 19th, and reviews are held until December 10th.
But “Complete Unknown” has started screening for the press, and the times they are a-changing.
Chalamet’s stock is off the charts. In a heavy field of actors, the “Dune” and “Willy Wonka” star has pulled ahead to lead the pack that includes Adrien Brody, Ralph Fiennes, Colman Domingo, and Daniel Craig.
If Chalamet wins, he will tie for youngest to win Best Actor. Ironically, the current prize holder is Brody, who was also 29 when he won for “The Pianist.”
All those other names I mentioned — and plenty more — have turned in great work this year. Fiennes, especially good in “Conclave,” has been nominated in the past but never grabbed the statue.
But Chalamet may help director Mangold repeat his “Walk the Line” triumph from 2005. Reese Witherspoon won her Oscar in that movie, for playing June Carter Cash. You’ll recall that Reese performed her songs herself and learned how to play the auto harp. Mangold has evidently used a page from that playbook for Chalamet and Dylan.
“A Complete Unknown” also joins the roster of potential Best Picture nominees which include blockbusters “Gladiator II,” “Wicked,” “Dune Two” and indie films like “Conclave,” “A Real Pain,” “Maria,” “Emilia Perez,” “The Brutalist,” and “Anora.”
The awards picture is coming into focus quickly now.
