With all that talent and Jewish-boy charm, it was no surprise when Timothée Chalamet was cast as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s newest biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” But when the film’s official teaser came out last week, viewers noticed that Chalamet looked… different. The actor completely nailed Dylan’s tousled hairstyle, soulful voice and, somehow, his iconic nose.
In 2023, more than one film was critiqued for placing prosthetic noses on non-Jewish actors and actresses. Helen Mirren was criticized for wearing one in “Golda,” though the film had a Jewish filmmaker. But most notably, the oscar-nominated film “Maestro” came under fire for a similar portrayal. Bradley Cooper, a goyishe actor, wore a prosthetic nose to play the renowned Jewish composer, Leonard Bernstein. Some Jews felt it was distasteful for a non-Jewish actor to don a much larger prosthetic nose, and the costuming choice was dubbed both “ethnic cosplay” and “jewface.” Others felt that the content of the film justified such a hyper-accurate portrayal. All-in-all, there was a great deal of discourse about the merits of the prosthetic nose and whether the choice ultimately tanked the film’s chances of winning an Oscar.
Given the backlash concerning last year’s biopic noses, it seemed unlikely that we would ever see another facial prosthetic in Hollywood. So it appears particularly risky to put a fake nose on Chalamet. But here we are again one year later, and the similarities are almost uncanny: A biopic following the early life of a young, now-beloved Jewish musician as he navigates relationships and the burden of talent in New York — and the actor is wearing a prosthetic nose. Cue: It isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?
But this time, viewers seem to be less outraged and more confused. There’s one key difference here: Timmy is Jewish. Some of the uncomfortable feelings surrounding Cooper’s portrayal of a Jewish icon don’t necessarily apply to Chalamet. Even more perplexing, the prosthetic being used in “A Complete Unknown” doesn’t seem to really capture Dylan’s classic profile. Viewers noticed that, while Chalamet’s nose is definitely larger, it isn’t quite Bob Dylan’s iconic hook nose. So, what was the point? Perhaps stirring up nose-controversy was a strategic way to get people talking about the film. Or, perhaps costume designers were concerned about backlash and just too cautious with their designs.
Some viewers aren’t sold on Chalamet at all, arguing that he’s not “ugly-hot” enough to play the singer regardless of makeup. Others feel that the “Wonka” and “Dune: Part Two” actor is the perfect fit, praising his singing voice in particular. Many film-lovers predict that Chalamet’s stardom and Dylan’s glory are a recipe for an Oscar.
Personally, I find myself more aligned with the confusion. I absolutely see the resemblance between Timothée Chalamet and Dylan. But like Bob Dylan, Chalamet has his own iconic (and already Jewish) profile, with an immediately recognizable angular jaw and boyish features. When someone messes with Timmy’s face, we notice. Maybe, I think, they cast someone too famous to mold into Bob Dylan.
While it’s fantasy that makes prosthetics in sci-fi so incredible, it’s reality that makes them fundamental to biopics. Viewers have such a loyalty to their icons that every little feature is memorized, so filmmakers feel a lot of pressure to get it right. We might ask ourselves whether Bob Dylan’s nose is that iconic or whether prosthetics are simply an industry must. And while nose prosthetics have a long history of being used for villains (and their associated antisemitic caricatures), films now attempt to find the line between authentic, iconic portrayals and overdone caricatures. Whether the prosthetic nose in “A Complete Unknown” is necessary or not is unclear, and it remains to be seen if it will detract from the film or help solidify Timmy’s portrayal of Dylan. Without a doubt, audiences and critics will continue thinking about this particular prosthetic nose until the film comes out in December — but how or if it will actually impact the film or the larger debate around using prosthetic noses for Jewish characters in Hollywood remains A Complete Unknown.
