2025 Oscars: Best Actor Watch: Timothée Chalamet on SNL

I’ve seen and heard people praise the publicity campaign of Timothée Chalamet for his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. But the thing is, he doesn’t need a campaign. Cameras and attention follow him wherever he goes because he has the light shining on him right now. Whether it’s his massive devoted fan base or his relationship with Kylie Jenner, the dude doesn’t have to do much.

On the other hand, as a lifelong Bob Dylan fan—no other figure has been more influential in my life—I can also say he captures the spirit of Dylan like no other. That comes from his love for Bob Dylan and his music. I have found in Chalamet a free spirit and an independent thinker—and that, I believe, allows him a way in to the enigma more so than someone who might not really understand what it means to be a COMPLETE UNKNOWN.

At any rate, it’s hard to imagine he won’t win Best Actor, although the combo of the actors branch and the newly irritating international voters, it’s possible he won’t. How many of them really get Dylan and can understand the depth of Chalamet’s performance? I don’t know.

My vote for Best Actor would be a tough call between Chalamet and Ralph Fiennes, whose performance in Conclave I still believe towers over the rest (and not just because Focus was one of two decent and brave studios to advertise—I thought so before). I don’t really want to see Chalamet win an Oscar in his career this early. It will kill his creative spirit. Winning Oscars young can sometimes damage a career (sometimes not). Fiennes, on the other hand, has paid his dues, turning one brilliant performance after the next. He’s way overdue. But trust me when I say these new voters don’t care about that either.

Humble and serious about his work, Fiennes just doesn’t have the same light on him that Chalamet does. It is just the timing and time that work against him.

I don’t know if Chalamet will win, but he is a worthy winner. Look at his wondrous performance on SNL singing and channeling Dylan. It’s quite breathtaking.

He was funny on the almost never funny show, too. I love that he’s willing to release himself as an actor and not care so much about his image. This was the only sketch I thought was funny; otherwise, it was business as usual in an industry that is cut off from real life.

I also love that Chalamet has introduced Bob Dylan to a new generation. I see them on TikTok discovering just how great his songs are and how eternally cool he was. I wish they’d also get the message of what being part of the counterculture really was back then and what it really is now. I don’t think they understand that there is nothing cool about going along with the scolds and the mob. Maybe someday…

Here are a few of my favorite Bob Dylan songs if it’s all new to you. Some are new, some are old.

To the scolds and the mob, no one else could slice and dice like Dylan—le sigh, my hero:

I’m sending this one out to everyone I’ve known for the last 25 years (except a small handful of decent ones).