Timothee Chalamet’s live singing in A Complete Unknown is winning hearts and Oscar buzz
What’s really cool is that Chalamet sang live for all his performances. He learned to play the guitar and harmonica to really capture Dylan’s vibe from the 1960s folk scene. That’s a big deal because live singing in movies can be a mixed bag. Some films nail it, while others, like Les Misérables, faced a lot of criticism.
Director James Mangold has experience with this approach. He did the same with Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line, and it worked out great. Initially, Chalamet recorded the songs beforehand, but he pushed to try singing live. Mangold was skeptical at first, but after seeing Chalamet perform, he was blown away.
Chalamet shared that he felt it was important to sing live. He wanted to keep it real and authentic. The production team went all out to capture that raw sound, using vintage microphones and instruments. It wasn’t easy, though. They had to figure out how to hide the microphone on Chalamet since Dylan held his guitar high.
Despite the challenges, the live singing really showcased Chalamet’s talent. He’s proving to be a standout in Hollywood, and this role might just lead him to an Oscar nomination. A Complete Unknown hits UK cinemas on January 17, and it’s definitely one to watch!
