Timothée Chalamet’s 10 best roles so far
By: Robin Dakota
Tags: Movies To Watch, Film Reviews, Movies, Movie Review, Film

New York City native actor, Timothée Chalamet, has quickly shot to stardom following his 2017 breakout role in Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The indie film received raving reviews, including 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and left the world craving more of Armie Hammer’s chipper young co-star.

Chalamet is any casting director’s dream: versatile, attractive, charismatic, and talented beyond his years. Not to mention, the French-American actor is bilingue en français and can easily pick up international languages, accents, and attitudes. Easy on the eyes and soul, it’s no wonder that Chalamet has since worked with major directors, such as Greta Gerwig and Wes Anderson.

As the world prepares for the late releases of his upcoming films, the French Dispatch and Dune, here is a list of Chalamet’s 10 best roles so far to satiate the appetite of fans as they wait.

10. Hot Summer Nights (2017)

In Elijah Bynum’s debut film, Chalamet plays a sexually frustrated teenager named Daniel, who spends his summer in Cape Cod selling weed and lusting after his newfound friend and business partner’s sister. Although Chalamet preformed the best he could with the script he was given, the character of Daniel lacks the depth and charm that so many of Chalamet’s other roles have, making it rank in last at number 10.

9. Interstellar (2014)

In Christopher Nolan’s wildly successful sci-fi film, Chalamet plays the role of an antagonistic brother and loyal son. Though his part was so small that he reportedly “wept for an hour” after seeing the movie, this role gave him a chance to get his name out there and prove himself as a professional actor.

8. One & Two (2015)

The movie itself, directed by Andrew Droz Palermo, has a dark, slow feel to it. While it is one of Chalamet’s lesser known films, he plays his role of Zac, an isolated teenage boy with supernatural powers, with flawless accuracy. His strong sibling bond with his sister Eva, played by Kiernan Shipka, is apparent to the audience as well. Though Chalamet was only 18 at the time of filming, the young actor’s promise is visible.

7. A Rainy Day in New York (2019)

Allegations of sexual assault against director Woody Allen led a Rainy Day in New York to be infamously shelved, but, thankfully, the world did not miss out on much. Ranking in at number 7, Chalamet charms his audience as Gatsby Welles, a loyal and sensitive college student who just wants to have a romantic weekend in Manhattan. Unfortunately, though well represented, his character is predictable, and the plotline falls short of impactful. Chalamet did donate his entire salary to Time’s Up, the LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN in response to Allen’s outing as a sexual predator, so some good did come out of this production. This was a huge learning experience for Chalamet in his career, and therefore it cannot be overlooked as a significant role.

6. Miss Stevens (2016)

Miss Stevens, directed by Julia Hart, certainly accomplishes it’s goal as a heartfelt dramedy, and even received 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Chalamet’s role, however, is one of his less memorable. He plays Billy Mitman, a troubled teenage boy with a love for theater and, apparently, his high school teacher Miss Stevens. Though he encapsulates his role most convincingly, you’ll likely forget about Billy Mitman once you turn your screen off, whereas Chalamet has so many other roles that impact viewers long after they finish watching.

5. The King (2019)

Directed by David Michôd specifically as a Netflix release, Chalamet’s role as King Henry “Hal” V allowed him to expand his potential as an actor. A period piece, Chalamet had to convincingly represent a 15th Century British royal, accent and all. He certainly proved his ability to play any role handed to him, and adapted to the conditions of the time period, including learning to wear armour and to rock a bowl haircut with stride. The audience will be shocked to find that Chalamet is in fact a 21st Century New York actor once they see his flawless performance in The King.

4. Lady Bird (2017)

The first of many roles alongside Saoirse Ronan, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird was influential for Chalamet’s career. He creates the perfect profile of that emotionally unavailable, devastatingly attractive young man we all have met at one point or another. His magnetic pull will convince you that you have nothing to fear, then as soon as you let go of your inhibitions, the curtain is pulled back and you see him for the playboy that he really is. You know Chalamet plays his role well, because you’ll go from wanting to date him to wanting to slap him across the face in the course of 1 hour and 35 minutes.

3. Little Women (2019)

Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, and Greta Gerwig were reunited once again for the newest adaptation of Little Women. Chalamet plays the role of Laurie beautifully, and the film will have audiences in tears from start to finish. Seeing Chalamet as a lovestruck hopeless romantic will make your heart melt and break simultaneously. He proves his place among the greats in this period piece, fitting in seamlessly among the likes of Emma Watson and Meryl Streep.

2. Beautiful Boy (2018)

Chalamet’s role as Nic Sheff is nothing short of transformative. A film that will stick with you long after watching it, his acting is so phenomenal it does not appear humanly possible. You would think that Chalamet must actually be Nic, based on his overnight transformation into an emaciated, multifaceted, deeply emotional drug addict. Thin to begin with, Chalamet took his role so seriously he even shed an additional twenty pounds just to get it right. His deep chemistry with his costars, particularly Steve Carell, who plays his father, allows for the complicated bonds between a struggling addict and their family to be explored with stunning accuracy.

1. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

The role of Elio that started Chalamet’s A-list career is also his best so far. The sexual tension between him and costar Armie Hammer, who plays his lover Oliver, is so strong you can practically feel it seeping through the screen. The film does not bother to overanalyze the idea that Oliver and Elio are two men, and instead focuses on the connection of two human beings, and the undeniably real relationship that arises between them as a result. This true coming of age film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, will leave you heartbroken, contemplative, and an indisputable fan of Timothée Chalamet’s work.