The night was not kind to A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic that entered the Golden Globes with high hopes but left empty-handed, losing in all three of its nominated categories.
Chief among the disappointments was Timothée Chalamet, whose portrayal of Dylan had stirred significant awards buzz. Oddsmakers pegged the 29-year-old as a front-runner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, but the award ultimately went elsewhere. Chalamet’s performance, though widely praised, now joins a long line of acclaimed turns left unrewarded by the Golden Globes.
Edward Norton, cast as folk legend Pete Seeger in the film, faced a similar fate. Nominated for Best Supporting Actor – Drama, Norton lost out to Kieran Culkin’s performance in A Real Pain. It’s a bittersweet moment for Norton, who previously claimed a Golden Globe in 1997 for his haunting role in Primal Fear.
The biopic’s third nomination, for Best Picture – Drama, also slipped away, with the top honor of the night going to The Brutalist.
This marks a striking departure from recent trends, as the Golden Globes have been notably generous to rock biopics in past years. In 2019, Bohemian Rhapsody swept the board, winning Best Picture and earning Rami Malek the Best Actor trophy for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury. A year later, Rocketman earned Taron Egerton the same award for his take on Elton John, with John and Bernie Taupin also winning for Best Original Song.
Despite the snub, Chalamet’s performance has earned widespread acclaim. Reflecting on the role, the actor described it as “the most unique challenge I’ve taken on,” highlighting the distinct pressure of performing Dylan’s music live on set.
Preparation for the role was exhaustive, with Chalamet devoting years to mastering Dylan’s dialect and harmonica skills. His commitment extended beyond acting, as he also served as one of the film’s producers.
“Bob wanted to be a rock ’n’ roll star—Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Elvis Presley,” Chalamet remarked in an interview with Apple Music 1. “Equally, I wanted to be a big movie actor. I’m now deep in the church of Bob, and I feel like I get this opportunity to kinda be a bridge to this music.”
The actor’s connection to the role has drawn comparisons to Dylan’s musings on artistic identity. “In one way, I don’t consider myself a filmmaker at all. In another way, I do,” Dylan once reflected.
While A Complete Unknown may have walked away without trophies, its resonance with audiences—and Chalamet’s nuanced portrayal—solidify its place among the more ambitious rock biopics of recent years.
