Assuming all goes to plan, the hugely anticipated blockbusters Wonka and Dune 2 are set to release later this year. The star actor in the pair of them is none other than Timothée Chalamet. Here is a ranking of his 10 best performances to date…
10: Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan is the man of the moment given that Oppenheimer recently hit cinema screens, and whilst Timothée Chalamet may not feature in the director’s most recent release he does play a memorable role in Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi smash hit. Although the plot revolves around Matthew McConaughey’s Cooper, Chalamet puts in a very powerful performance as his son, Tom. Despite a strong showing, it’s difficult to compete with the mesmeric McConaughey—leaving it at the bottom of a very competitive list.
9: Little Women (2019)
Female characters are at the fore of Greta Gerwig’s interpretation of the iconic novel, but Chalamet is a brilliant secondary character as Laurie. It is a superb film overall, and whilst he’s not on the level of Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Emma Watson, he still delivers—and then some. The excellent dialogue and flow courtesy of the Barbie director work perfectly with Chalamet’s style.
8: Lady Bird (2017)
The trio of Gerwig, Chalamet and Ronan is on the list once again with the hugely emotional coming-of-age film Lady Bird. Watching the pair’s relationship develop under the direction of Gerwig, something which is at the heart of the project, adds further depth to an already great story. Ronan is, of course, the star, but Chalamet puts on a natural, confident display alongside her.
7: Hot Summer Nights (2017)
Hot Summer Nights may not be anything special, but Chalamet’s performance deserves a lot of respect. Despite a script and storyline that are all over the place at times, the film is kept afloat by its leading man.
6: The French Dispatch (2021)
The list of great directors that Chalamet has collaborated with continues with Wes Anderson. The New York-born actor features in the third and final story of The French Dispatch as a rebellious student who is looking to make a change. As has become a consistent trend in his performances, Chalamet’s chemistry with his co-stars enhances the story. In this instance, it is Oscar winner Frances McDormand with whom he gels so perfectly.
5: Bones and All (2022)
For all of Timothée Chalamet’s brilliance in Bones and All, he remains overshadowed by the performances of Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance. This isn’t a slight towards him as such. given just how wonderful the aforementioned pair are, but it sees a great film slide down the list slightly. Nevertheless, the way in which he morphs into such an unusual character and puts on an authentic performance is a sight to behold.
4: Beautiful Boy (2018)
Beautiful Boy‘s gut-wrenching story of addiction allows Chalamet to truly thrive. He plays Nic Sheff, whose seemingly perfect life is destroyed by drugs, putting a major strain on his familial relationships. Steve Carell plays Nic’s father, and the pair forge a hugely realistic and believable partnership on screen. Chalamet’s ability to evoke emotion in audiences lends itself to such a heatbreaking tale, and is particularly strong here.
3: The King (2019)
The King shows yet another side of Chalamet’s talent—who knows what to expect from this star of today and tomorrow?! Historic ensemble pieces can be very hit-or-miss, but Chalamet’s portrayal of Hal is firmly in the former camp. The way he plays off of Joel Edgerton and Robert Pattinson is delightful, and a prime example of his ability to forge strong chemistry with his costars.
2: Call Me by Your Name (2017)
The second Luca Guadagnino film on this list is the heartfelt romance Call Me by Your Name. Chalamet’s character Elio goes on a journey of self-discovery regarding his sexuality in this adaptation of the infamous André Aciman novel. Armie Hammer plays Oliver, the older man whose attention for Elio is constantly twisting and turning. This is Timothée at his emotive best, earning him an Oscar nomination for best actor, and is yet another chapter of an excellent career.
1: Dune (2021)
Chalamet’s performance in the 2021 release, directed by Denis Villeneuve, took him to new heights. His role in the modern sci-fi classic was as beneficial for his career as it was for the production’s success, and is deserving of this top spot; there are a lot of dramas on this, but Dune stands out from the rest of Chalamet’s filmography. His on-screen relationship with the likes of Rebecca Ferguson and Jason Momoa only enhanced the final product, and he really owned the lead role of such a powerful project.
One of the two 2023 releases featuring Timothée Chalamet that is being keenly awaited is, of course, Dune 2, with the addition of names such as Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and Christopher Walken to the sequel’s cast setting expectations high for the November release. Wonka meanwhile has been met with a mixture of opinions, the latest trailer raising a few eyebrows as to whether Chalamet can follow up from the work of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp in this iconic role. Either way, the second half of this year promises to be huge for the career of the supremely talented actor.
Words by Jamie Rooke
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