The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown features a heartfelt central performance from Timothée Chalamet, whose portrayal of Dylan’s early years has rightly garnered widespread acclaim. Scheduled for release in March, this performance is up for an Academy Award, and he’s considered an outside bet to win his first Oscar. Yet, Chalamet’s turn as the young musician during his first electric period may well have been bested already, 17 years ago, by the unlikeliest of actors. Given the controversy around Adrien Brody’s Best Actor nomination for the 2025 Oscars, Chalamet now has every chance of winning; however, if he does, he might want to mention Cate Blanchett in his acceptance speech.
Blanchett’s depiction of Bob Dylan in the 2007 experimental film I’m Not There came straight out of left field, but leaves an indelible legacy that few other portrayals of the singer, including Chalamet’s, could ever live up to. It’s noteworthy that Blanchett was a cisgender Australian woman in her late thirties playing an American man in his early twenties. Despite these differences, it feels as though she was born to play this version of Bob Dylan circa 1965. For fans of Dylan, it is worth watching I’m Not There before A Complete Unknown just to compare Blanchett’s and Chalamet’s respective takes on one of modern music’s most significant icons.
Both films depict the same key moments in this portion of Dylan’s career, including his infamous electric set at a folk festival and his tense encounter with journalists at a press conference. For Chalamet, unfortunately, there can only be one winner in this comparison. Blanchett’s interpretation of Dylan is sublimely accurate, not merely in terms of surface-level mannerisms, but in her overall manner of speaking and acting.
Chalamet’s portrayal often looks and sounds precisely like a young Dylan in A Complete Unknown. His performance is expertly studied, capturing the way he fiddles nervously with his harmonica and the distinctive intonations in his speaking voice. However, practice does not always equate to perfection. While Chalamet may appear to be “doing” a better Dylan, Blanchett digs deeply into the character’s emotional complexity, bringing out his spirit and essence.
The enigmatic folk icon Bob Dylan had a few roles to play for his new biopic, A Complete Unkown, starring Timothée Chalamet. Co-written and directed by James Mangold, the film ensures that every last detail captures Dylan’s life and career as it was—or appeared to be—highlighting Chalamet’s singing and musicianship. It is no wonder the project received the seal of approval from Dylan himself, who was not as involved in the making of I’m Not There.
Chalamet does deliver a commendable impression of Dylan singing at the Newport Folk Festival in A Complete Unknown, whereas Blanchett’s rendition of “Maggie’s Farm” might not sound quite as familiar. Nonetheless, her performance feels truer to what Dylan was aiming for than Chalamet’s precise mimicry. The mere thought of Cate Blanchett portraying Bob Dylan might sound far-fetched until one witnesses her miraculous transformation. Throughout her entire career, she has consistently reached for improbable characterizations of both fictional and real-world figures, excelling in virtually all of them due to her incredible range.
Blanchett’s most significant roles include two different portrayals of Queen Elizabeth I, a scene-stealing outing as Hollywood great Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator, and a stunning example of physical acting as Berlin orchestra conductor Lydia Tár. Despite the exceptional nature of Blanchett’s portrayal of Dylan, it may forever remain underappreciated. As it stands, Timothée Chalamet might need to accept accolades on her behalf if A Complete Unknown triumphs at the Oscars.
Meanwhile, the real winner in this narrative is Dylan himself, who has become the subject of two award-worthy portrayals across different generations, each shedding new light on his incomparable body of work as a titan of modern music. With both performances resonating with audiences, the legacy of Bob Dylan continues to grow, inspiring new waves of appreciation that honor his impact in the world of music.