While Schulman believes Chalamet’s persona on the Marty Supreme press tour was mostly an act, it has left other people confused.
Is he really a brash celebrity who dates reality TV stars, or a humble and serious actor?
Or maybe both – an excellent, serious actor who comes across as obnoxious when he makes no secret of his desire to win an Oscar and become “one of the greats”, and who dates a reality TV star, Kylie Jenner, and is very good at stunts to sell his films.
Other factors, external may in fact have a greater say in the Oscar race than the opera and ballet comments – such as unease over reports that surfaced saying a 17-year-old girl was cast to play a sex worker in a previous film from Marty Supreme director Josh Safdie. The director was reportedly unaware of her age until after the scene was shot.
There has also been a swing of support towards Sinners, especially after the Baftas, following which the film’s stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were praised for their composure when a guest with Tourette’s involuntarily shouted a racial slur while they were on stage.
Jordan’s chances of winning best actor on Sunday, Hollywood’s big night, are now more than 50%, according to prediction site Gold Derby, external – with Chalamet on 34%.
“But he still could win,” Schulman says.