A Complete Unknown

Warning : This article contains SPOILERS for A Complete Unknown !

The peculiar features ofA Complete Unknownshares one detail that get Edward Norton ’s performance and Oscar nomination more telling . A Complete Unknown has speedily become one of the most popular Bob Dylan movies , telling the story of his liveliness in the early 1960s . Since before its release , I ’ve covered A Complete Unknown for Screen Rant , even attending an early memory access show with an exclusive Q&A. The project is , without a doubt , one of thebest euphony biopicsof the last X .

Each of the actors deserves recognition for their great performances . However , one worker stand out to me after catch “ The fashioning of A Complete Unknown , ” which come with thedigital interlingual rendition ofA Complete Unknown . More than anyone else in the pic , Edward Norton impresses me . His performance was already engaging even without the behind - the - scenes information , but one item about how he became Pete Seeger in A Complete unsung highlight his strength as an actor .

A Complete Unknown Official Teaser Poster

Edward Norton Had Less Time To Prepare For His Role Than His Co-Stars

Edward Norton Was Brought Onto A Complete Unknown As A Last-Minute Casting Change

“ The Making of A Complete Unknown ” reveals that Edward Norton had significantly less time to fix for his part than his Centennial State - stars Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro . During the Q&A with the stamp , Chalamet said he spent five years educate to playact Bob Dylan . Meanwhile , Monica Barbaro prepare to wager Joan Baez over the form of a yr . Given how long they solve on these characters , their incredible operation make sense .

Even though A Complete Unknown gloss over Pete Seeger ’s trial , the true story of the FBI probe and Congress earshot is bewitching .

However , the movie only brought on Edward Norton after the Hollywood strikes , since Benedict Cumberbatch backed out of the task . This gave the actor much less time to get into the head teacher of Pete Seeger and con the banjo . He was cast in late January 2024 , and A Complete Unknown start filming in mid - March 2024.Considering he only had a fraction of the time to prepare , Norton could ’ve easily afford a less engaging performance than his atomic number 27 - stars , but he did n’t .

Edward Norton as Pete Seeger from A Complete Unknown

Custom Image by Ana Nieves

I ’m soundly impressed with Norton . In a matter of a span of month , he captured the essence of Pete Seeger , successfully replicate his voice , pose , and musical style . His acting take humility , authenticity , and honesty . Moreover , it ’s exciting that he have an Oscar nominating address alongside Chalamet and Barbaro , who both had more clock time to dig into the real - life inspirations for their A Complete Unknown characters .

Edward Norton’s Passion For The Role Made Up For His Lack Of Time

Edward Norton Has A Deep Appreciation For Pete Seeger

Besides Edward Norton ’s substantial act ability , the most significant contribute factor to his fantastic performance is the passion he felt for the role . In “ The Making of A Complete Unknown , ” the actor unwrap that the music get him into the part . Norton studied video of Pete Seeger , concentrate on dominate the song in the picture , and learned about the actor ’s political activism . He felt a deep respect for thereal - animation mortal who inspired theA Complete Unknowncharacter .

Another footstep he take to empathize Pete Seeger was speaking to Pete Seeger ’s friends and class , include the existent Joan Baez , to get inside the singer ’s chief .

The actor , who is an militant himself , bring out toY ! Entertainmentthat he specifically felt massive wonderment for Seeger ’s activism and hop the viewers would look deep into the Isaac Bashevis Singer after watchingA Complete Unknown . Speaking of the creative person of that sentence catamenia , Edward Norton said , “ They were in it to endeavor to use euphony as an cat’s-paw of change , and not to just get famous and rich . You know what I imply ? ”

Pete Seeger sings in A Complete Unknown

Bob Dylan has voiced his own opinion about James Mangold ’s successful biopic , A Complete Unknown , and he was even involved in part of the outgrowth .

Another step he take to translate Pete Seeger was verbalize to Pete Seeger ’s friend and crime syndicate , include the real Joan Baez , to get inside the singer ’s forefront . Unsurprisingly , he said in the behind - the - setting video that nobody had a bad Scripture to say about Pete Seeger . Ultimately , it did n’t weigh that he only had a fraction of the time that others had to organize . His deep understanding and reverence for Pete Seeger is visible in A Complete Unknown .

Why Edward Norton Probably Won’t Win The 2025 Oscar For Best Supporting Actor

The Best Supporting Actor Oscar Will Undoubtedly Go To Kieran Culkin

Despite giving a stellar performance in A Complete Unknown , the chance of Edward Norton winning the2025 Oscar for Best endure Actorare minimum , asKieran Culkin is almost insure to win his performance as Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain . The three best laurels show to look at when predicting the Oscar achiever are – in guild from least to most important – the Golden Globes , the BAFTAs , and the SAG Awards . Culkin took home all three of those awards in plus to a Critics ’ Choice Award , a Spirit Award , and a National Board of Review Award .

Every 2025 Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Guy Pearce

A Complete Unknown - Edward Norton playing a guitar

The Brutalist

Yuriy Borisov

Anora

Timothee Chalamet playing an electric guitar in A Complete Unknown

Edward Norton

Kieran Culkin

A Real Pain

Movies

Jeremy Strong

The Apprentice

This honour sweep fundamentally guarantees Kieran Culkin the Best Supporting Actor Oscar . In the unprecedented event that Culkin does n’t take the award , Jeremy Strong is the next most likely contender to win . Unfortunately , Edward Norton really does n’t stand up a chance . This does n’t understate his performance inA Complete Unknown , though , as Norton full deserve the Best Supporting Actor nominating speech . The nominating address for this honor are packed with excellent actors , and I ca n’t mean of a single soul nominated for the award who does n’t deserve it . Sadly , it can only go to one person .

A Complete Unknown