Timothée Chalamet: Building a Legacy

With the highly anticipated release of A Complete Unknown set for December 25th, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the impressive range of Timothée Chalamet's filmography. From his early minor roles to his more prominent and critically acclaimed performances, Chalamet has steadily built a diverse and captivating career. Having watched twelve of his films so far, and genuinely enjoying a significant portion of them—if not all, each in their own unique way—I’m excited to dive into this review. In it, I’ll share my thoughts on why, despite this being a somewhat mild take, I firmly believe Timothée Chalamet stands as one of the finest actors currently working in film today.

Interstellar (2014)

Let’s start from the very beginning, the very first film I saw of Timothée’s was Interstellar (2014). Considering Chalamet’s character was only present for the first half of the film I’ll keep this review short. Timothee plays Tom, the clearly lesser appreciated child of Cooper (Matthew McConaughey). Whilst their bond was definitely no where near as central to the plotline as was Murph and Coop’s, Chalamet’s role in Interstellar could definitely have set him up for some incredible new projects.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★★

Hot Summer Nights (2017)

The next film in Chalamet’s filmography was Hot Summer Nights (2017), in which Chalamet takes on the role of Daniel Middleton a boy who perhaps goes too far into the drug trade, he certainly comes of age in this film and learns what it is to get in over his head. Admittedly, I probably would never have watched this film without me undertaking the project of watching a lot of his other works. I truly believe that Timothée carries this film on his back, whilst the film mirrors its title through the directors use of sun-drenched shots and the constant undercurrent of nostalgia, it definitely lacks in other areas.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★½

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

We finally got around to it – next up is Call Me By Your Name (2017). There is no doubt that Luca Guadagnino’s film was responsible for Chalamet’s ascent into being unanimously thought of as an A-list actor. If you’ve not seen this film yet, honestly where have you been? I’ll give you the overview anyways, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman we follow Timothée’s character Elio through his summer of 1983. I’m personally so excited to see Guadagnino’s new film Queer, the director consistently and effortlessly depicts love as a natural and unstoppable force. Timothée perfectly captures the book’s Elio and his vulnerable surrender to the overwhelming power of his love for Oliver.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★

Lady Bird (2017)

Timothée plays Kyle, an aloof and pretentious high schooler (who’s not like other boys) in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. He perfectly embodies the classic "too cool for school" stereotype with his political cynicism, emotional unavailability, disdain for authority—and, of course, the fact that he's in a band. Kyle is deliberately crafted to embody stereotypes, serving as a foil to Saoirse Ronan’s character, and Chalamet really puts on quite the performance.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★

Beautiful Boy (2018)

This film currently sits at the top spot for my favourite role of Chalamet’s. Beautiful Boy is something I could rewatch again and again and I would still cry just as much as I did the previous time. Timothée’s performance here deserves so much credit and truly merits acclaim. Beautiful Boy is based on the memoirs Beautiful Boy by David Sheff & Tweak by Nic Sheff. The film devastatingly explores the harrowing impact of addiction on a family (specifically a father & son bond). Timothée’s portrayal of Nic is sensitive, raw and authentic. He brings so much humanity to this role that it creates space for greater empathy for Nic & the many other people struggling with addiction, rather than focusing solely on the effect of this on the family. I could never have rated this film any lower than five out of five!

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★★

Little Women (2019)

Chalamet next took on the iconic role of Laurie in Little Women. Starring alongside Saoirse Ronan again, he brings a youthful enthusiasm & yet again emotional vulnerability to this film. His arc progresses throughout the film as he grapples with the realisation of his unrequited love for Jo and later finds the comfort and solace he always needed in Amy. As Timothée Chalamet takes on more blockbuster roles, his acting ability evolves not gradually, but in significant leaps. He performs the role of Laurie with a delicate balance of vulnerability, humor, sarcastic wit, and unrelenting love.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★½

The King (2019)

The King seems to receive a lot of mixed reviews and is definitely not commonly the film that would come to mind when one thinks of Timothée’s filmography. However, whilst my memory of this film is slightly hazy I do remember really enjoying watching it. His acting in this role is marked by a restraint that aptly reflects the stoic nature expected of a king. Could possibly be marked as one of his most challenging roles!

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★½

The French Dispatch (2021)

Of course next up in his filmography was a role in a Wes Anderson film, and he commits to the flamboyent and overly stylised world that a Wes Anderson classic demands. Chalamet was perfect for the role of Zeffirelli who embodies youthful passion and an eagerness to challenge societal norms. Whilst not a massive character in this film his performance definitely makes him a memorable one.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★

Dune: Part One (2021)

With Denis Villeneuve stating that he ‘needed an old soul in the body of a teenager’, Timothee was his choice for the character of Paul Atreides. Even amidst the grandeur and excess of an otherworldly setting like Dune, the film requires a raw human intensity to anchor the epic and make it somewhat relatable for an audience to tune in to. Timothée delivers exactly that infusing this character with his usual level of emotional depth - bridging that gap between the extraordinary and the familiar. It was interesting to see Chalamet incorporate aspects of his signature acting style into a sci-fi film.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★★

Don’t Look Up (2021)

Yule, Yule, Yule! Despite this being a role with limited screentime Yule adds humour and becomes a suprising love interest for Jennifer Lawrence’s character. In such a small role, he manages to create a character that is completely multifaceted. Whilst Yule is clearly a stereotypical portrayal of youth serving as the film’s much needed comic relief, he also stands out as a suprisingly grounded and heartfelt character. Yule is an embodiment of someone that can find meaning in the simple, the small, and the most human experiences rather than needing and wanting and expecting trivial things like many of the other characters in this film.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★½

Bones and All (2022)

Another Luca Guadagnino film that sees Timothée deliver a deeply emotional performance. This romantic horror film showcases Chalamet’s incredible range, particularly through his ability to portray the tragic duality of Lee. Yet again, Luca and Timothée create a space on screen that highlights the intense vulnerabilities caused by love. Taylor Russell enhances the film with her compelling performance and makes the chemistry between both characters utterly undeniable. Both actors demonstrate a remarkable ability to evoke empathy for even the most morally complex of characters. Though the film is unsettling and gory, it’s the intense love story that truly captivates, drawing you in and holding your attention throughout.

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★★½ on rewatch could be a ★★★★

WONKA (2023)

Now, not to end this review on a bad note but I personally wasn’t the greatest fan of Wonka. Whilst Chalamet offers his usual charm, emotional depth and vulnerability - I felt a disconnect. I think the performance was great and just what it needed to be, eccentric and passionate. However after witnessing such iconic Willy Wonka’s like Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp it’s always going to be difficult not to prefer a previous version. Maybe it’s nostalgia and a lack of a personal need for a remake/prequel or maybe the film just didn’t grip me like his other roles have!

My Letterboxd Rating: ★★½ possibly ★★★