If desperate-to-win Timothee Chalamet misses out on the best actor Oscar tonight for Marty Supreme he can only blame it on his other recent performances – appearing as himself on every red carpet and envelope opening in Tinseltown.
Overexposed on the campaign trail with his unfathomable, pneumatic girlfriend Kylie Jenner, he’s been hawking the 1950s ping-pong flick harder than a Meghan Markle jam launch.
The result? The once edgy thespian appears a cynical sell out – his golden boy brand tarnished by tacky stunts and sly disses that suggest an ego bigger than Kylie’s long-rumored butt job.
Everyone knows the golden rule for nominees is to keep their public declarations as safe as a Miss World winner’s speech but pleased-with-himself Timothee has been a little loose-lipped.
In a Variety and CNN town hall conversation with Matthew McConaughey in February, the 30-year-old Dune star chose to take a swipe at other art forms.
‘I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, “Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore,”‘ he said at the event held at the University of Texas.
‘All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there,’ he added before signing off with a ‘comedic’ warbly singing note.
Oh dear, add to the mix the never ending infantile promotional stunts – from a rapping cameo with EsDeeKid to wearing large, orange ping-pong ball masks – it’s all quite a departure for the cultural anthropology graduate once prone to deep musings.
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‘I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore,’ he said
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The never ending infantile promotional stunts – from a rapping cameo with EsDeeKid to wearing large, orange ping-pong ball masks – are all quite a departure for the cultural anthropology graduate once prone to deep musings
And what to unpick from the outburst that has got so many in a spin? The casual slap down of two art forms with a near collective 1,000-year history.
What about the arrogance that ‘he wouldn’t want to do either,’ rather than any consideration he may not have the talent or the discipline?
Not to mention the surprising lack of respect and solidarity for his fellow performing artists. Incidentally, ballet star Misty Copeland helped to promote Marty Supreme in a joint Instagram post with the film’s official account in November after she was approached by Chalamet.
Yes, Timmy and Kylie may find it awkward when the 43-year-old performs at tonight’s Oscar ceremony, though they’ll no doubt be on their phones while she’s pirouetting.
And what is Chalamet really saying? That any art form that isn’t viral or without a block buster budget is pointless?
I suppose the ‘bigger the better’ mantra is bound to take hold when you’re surrounded by the inflated assets of billionaire Kylie and the extended Kardashian clan.
Posing in matching orange leather ensembles, like a cut price 90s Posh and Becks at the Marty Supreme premiere in December, the odd union continues to chip away at the Chalamet brand.
Predictably, on the cusp of the acting world’s biggest night, the 28-year-old mom of three has ramped up the exposure with a conveniently timed nearly-nude spread in the latest edition of Vanity Fair.
No doubt she’ll be on her usual duties on Oscar night – flashing the flesh and pawing away at Timmy’s bum fluff tache.
Meanwhile, Chalamet has rarely missed an opportunity to remind the Oscar committee of his method-acting-style commitment, from mastering table tennis to that ultimate sacrifice – refusing a butt double in a spanking scene.
Yes, the rear that you see being whacked by a paddle on screen is the very one through which he increasingly talks.
‘I’m not just hawking this to you guys – but this isn’t just a movie sell this is just amazing,’ he droned on the Jimmy Fallon Show back in December while decked out in the film’s branded jacket.
‘Marty Supreme dream big, Marty Supreme Christmas day, if you put your butt in the seat, you won’t regret it, Marty Supreme is the one man. Marty Supreme Christmas day you know.’
Cue the indulgent whoops from the fan faithful.
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Posing in matching orange leather ensembles, like a cut price 90s Posh and Becks at the Marty Supreme premiere in December, the odd union continues to chip away at the Chalamet brand
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Chalamet has rarely missed an opportunity to remind the Oscar committee of his method-acting-style commitment, from mastering table tennis to that ultimate sacrifice – refusing a butt double in a spanking scene
I’m sure Chalamet believes he’s fated to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro – men who generally let their talent do the talking rather than running an elevator pitch for their wares.
In truth, for all of Chalamet’s scene-stealing turns in Little Women and Call Me by Your Name, he has never looked more of try-hard pretender especially when set against his notably low-key rival, Michael B Jordan, nominated for playing twins Smoke and Stack in Sinners.
Of course, some will argue that Chalamet’s hard-sell approach is the future of movie marketing, that a film about ping-pong needs to work hard to engage the click bait generation. But that would be too generous a take.
The backlash against him feels broad for good reason – an organic reaction against his entitlement, gimmicks and a force fed publicity blitz that has simply hit the wrong note.
Truth be told, Chalamet has never needed a slice of humble pie more badly. With an Oscar snub he’d be handed his just desserts.
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
