Timothée Chalamet on what it took to play Bob Dylan (including visits to Minnesota)
The star of "A Complete Uknown" in his own words.
The new Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” hits movie theaters on Christmas Day. It’s already considered a leading contender to land Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor, with Timothée Chalamet winning raves for his performance as a young Bob Dylan.
Dylan himself has endorsed the casting in a social media post that was frequently mentioned during Chalamet’s Dec. 5 visit to Minneapolis for an advance screening of the film. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me,” wrote Dylan.
In addition to hanging out with the University of Minnesota Marching Band, Chalamet spoke at length with local media — first in a group interview with reporters from a range of outlets, then in a question-and-answer session with Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current.
The Duluth News Tribune previously reported on that visit in an article featuring excerpts from Chalamet’s comments. Following are extended quotes (edited for length and clarity) from the actor, who spoke about topics including his two prior Northland visits to research his role as the Duluth-born, Hibbing-raised music icon.
On the impact of his visits to Duluth and Hibbing
I just felt like it kind of gave me the energetic information of what Bob went through growing up. … Obviously, in a two-day trip, you don’t get the entire download of what that was like, and it didn’t demystify it for me either, but … it helped see that his home was a home. It wasn’t far from what I could relate to, and it helped me find my way. It was something I had to do, especially (given) the amount of time I had on my hands to research for the role. If I didn’t do it, it just would have been strange.
On a totally separate note, nothing to do with Bob Dylan, and I mean it sincerely, I loved it here. I love Minnesota, and I find the people to be really nice and generous of spirit. I’m sure it’s not universal … but I just think it’s lovely out here. I loved visiting Hibbing and Duluth.
Driven to visit the Northland
It was two trips. The first time was only Minneapolis and Duluth. The second time was Minneapolis, Duluth and Hibbing.
I was blasting Sun Records. I was trying to listen to all the music (Dylan) was listening to at the time. I was driving down the highway passing all sorts of strange Minnesota casinos, and I was driving so fast I hit the ice and the pickup I was in skidded out … which was humbling, because I didn’t know how to drive on the roads out here.
I don’t know how to describe those trips. They were just extremely informative and moving, (including) this trip right now, which … was my idea, it wasn’t the studio’s idea. I just love it because, as a 28-year-old New Yorker, I don’t think my path has really brought me out here, ever. So the first time I got here, I thought (it would be a chance to) be in this guy’s worldview.
For some reason, I brought myself here, and I was in Duluth, and I’m staying in an Airbnb above (Duluth’s Best Bread), and there’s a casino across the street. Again, so strange. I was just so grateful, and cherishing it through this process.
On what Dylan’s endorsement means
Total dream come true. If my interaction with the legendary Bob Dylan is limited to that moment, it will have been more than I could have ever dreamed of. Just sort of mind-boggling and very affirming. Beyond the movie, he says “brilliant actor”!
On Dylan’s relationship with Minnesota
I feel like I think he’s very proud of his Minnesota heritage. The way I relate to it … is the iron ore … informed the grit in his voice in some ways. Different than it would have been to have been raised in Hawaii.
The Beach Boys … their music sounds like the way they grew up. The way Bob Dylan’s music sounds like North Country blues and rocks and gravel, that sounds like Hibbing.
This song “Rocks and Gravel,” which he never put out, I was like, man, this what this looks like. As a young hip-hop fan, I was like, oh, wow, he was — in a different texture, in different form — doing the same thing in the ’60s, representing where he came from through his music.
On visiting Dylan’s childhood homes
His house in Duluth, I never got to go inside of … but that was extremely moving.
I visited the one in Hibbing, and (owner Bill Pagel) has drawings there and notes and things that haven’t made their way online, and he refuses to let make their way online, things that were massively informative to me about Bob’s sense of pre-destiny and his drive, things that in our modern-day parlance we would call manifestation.
On the song ‘Girl From the North Country’
I don’t think anybody knows what that song is about. I think there’s four people that claim that song is about them.
The great thing (is that) Bob’s got work like “Death of Emmett Till” or “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues,” it’s very topical. Then songs like “Times They Are A-Changin'” or “Girl From the North Country,” they’re purposefully obtuse in my interpretation. Maybe he would disagree.
So I think it matters less who that song is about, and more what it’s about, which is a love that you miss, especially at that (young) age when you’re still confused all the time.
On visiting the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
I never got to have a classic American college experience, so I’m trying to (condense it into) these three days. It was awesome. Obviously (Dylan) went to the school for a little bit, and Dinkytown was very informative to his folk music obsessions. … I went to Columbia for a little bit. That doesn’t really count as a campus, and NYU definitely doesn’t count as a campus. So this is like a little slice of life.
On the hero’s arc
I feel a pride for Bob Dylan and the fact that he’s from Minnesota. I have an affinity and a love for these musicians and artists that come through New York, where I’m from, and sprout — like Kid Cudi, one of my favorite artists, came from Cleveland. … It’s unimaginable to me, because I had a hard enough time getting going being from New York. This hero’s arc … born in Duluth, to Hibbing, to Wisconsin, to Chicago, to New York and boom! It’s inspiring.
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