Photo credit: www.goldderby.com
James Mangold Celebrates Three Oscar Nominations for ‘A Complete Unknown’
On a seemingly ordinary Thursday morning, James Mangold awoke to an extraordinary surprise: three Academy Award nominations for his biopic on Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown. The film received nominations for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay—shared with co-writer Jay Cocks—and Best Picture. Though Mangold acknowledged the nominations weren’t entirely unexpected, he expressed his excitement during a conversation with Gold Derby, stating, “I’ve been doing this a long time, and you learn very well not to expect anything. Just be open and let it happen. Obviously the results are thrilling.”
Having received two previous Oscar nominations—one for adapted screenplay in 2018 for Logan and another for Best Picture in 2020 for Ford v Ferrari—Mangold is no stranger to the awards scene. However, his latest work has faced criticism for its creative liberties, notably in condensing timelines and interweaving events. Despite these critiques, he believes the film’s eight nominations do not serve as a rebuttal to its detractors.
“I honestly find most of that chatter to be ludicrous,” he emphasized. “The reality is the movie adheres very closely to historical reality and was made based upon a renowned nonfiction book and extensive interviews and research with all the principals involved. The reality is the movie really does tell a story very close to what (actually) happened but more so does what movies I believe can do best, which is bring you to the truth of place, vibe, feeling, and character.” Mangold pointed out that cinema can convey a unique form of truth that transcends the limitations of written accounts, focusing instead on the emotional and atmospheric experience of a moment.
SEE‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘The Brutalist,’ and ‘Wicked’ lead 2025 Oscar nominations: See the full list
Based on the book “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties” by Elijah Wald, A Complete Unknown explores the rapid ascent of a 19-year-old Dylan as he navigates relationships with notable figures from the Greenwich Village music scene. The film features Timothée Chalamet in the titular role, with Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro portraying folk legends Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, respectively. Each of these actors received Oscar nominations for their performances, alongside Mangold’s nominations and additional nods for Best Costume Design and Best Sound.
Mangold reflected on his collaboration with Chalamet, noting their close partnership over more than six years. He remarked, “Timothée worked for six years preparing for this role, and we’ve been partners prepping this movie all that time amid delays for COVID, industry strikes, our mutual schedules and availabilities. The two of us have hung in there for a long time on this picture, and I’m not only proud of the immense talent and discipline he shows in his performance in this movie but also our friendship and partnership which has extended half the decade to get this movie made.”
Furthermore, Mangold expressed enthusiasm for the performances of both Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro. He described Norton as “one of the great actors of his generation” and praised Barbaro for her surprising talent in the film, highlighting her commitment to mastering singing for her role. “It’s an incredible testament to her dedication and work preparing for this role,” he noted.
The director also acknowledged the exemplary work of his sound team, recognizing the challenges they faced in producing the film. “They deserve massive kudos for this movie,” he stated, highlighting their efforts in utilizing live recordings and period microphones, along with the intricate mixing of dialogue and music.
Source
www.goldderby.com