Sorry for off-topic:

 

That's a nice surprise , I had forgotten about that show , Nice to see Adam Tucker doing so well for himself . Also reminds me what a beautiful singer Will Young is .

Always wanted to hear any duet in any form between Will and Robbie...

Yes, Mr Young is a great artist and very undarrated.

Still his favourite song and video:

 

 

@1865137678162825242

 

 

@1865338103570874847

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2024Dec 7 by Sydney11

Interview before his premiere in Rome yesterday:

 

 

 

And some short videos from red carpet

 

 

 

Thanks Alex. Interesting that US wide cinema release is not until JAN 10th ..

I think there are three reasons:

- Big cinema release will be in the end of December 2024 around the World - Lion King: Mufasa. Nobody beat it during holiday season. No chances at all. So, Jan-10 as a slightly later looks really fine date: it's slughtly before Golden Globes and slightly before Oscar nominations.

- There are few Paramount films will be released around these dates: September 5 movie will start its screening on January 17, so they decided to push Better Man earlier (shifted from Jan17 to Jan10). In my opinion, because Paramount are feeling more potential for Better Man than for September 5. So it's another good sign.

- Oscar rule: for a possibility to get any nominations you must release your movie in cinema before January 31, even with limited q-ty of screens. An then you can extend it any later moment.

 

I'm really happy: the premiere of Better Man in Russia, Moscow will be on Dec 21, a few days before official release.

The premiere is in the best cinema theater but not in the main hall.

 

Thanks to Paramount and producers for that.

 

---

 

The last time I watched there a premiere of

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 7 years ago!!

But the best experience has been with a retrospective screening of Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini. The hall is huuuuge (1500 persons) and I was happy to see a sold out for that old classics.

 

There are some really great posters have been released for December releases.

'Better Man' is in a good company.

 

My faves are for 'Nosferatu', maybe because I'm waiting for this movie so much - this is my fave of movie season.

The font makes sense.

 

 

https://thefilmstage.com/posterized-december-2024/

 

Posterized December 2024: Nosferatu, The Brutalist, The End & More

Jared Mobarak○December 6, 2024

Wild concept for the film aside (a biopic about Robbie Williams where he’s played by a motion-captured, CGI chimpanzee), Better Man’s (limited, December 25; wide, January 10) marketing campaign is effectively simple. The subject is a pop star who’s made a career in the spotlight of magazine covers and paparazzi photos, so why not lean into that experience while trying to humanize the tuxedoed primate filling his shoes?

 

BOND pretty much creates a mock-up Rolling Stone cover for the first poster while The Refinery gives us an “in the wild” shot of Chimp Williams glaring through a sea of media types at what appears to be a red-carpet event. The latter is fun in its juxtaposition (including the tagline “Fame makes moneys of us all” despite chimpanzees being apes), but I’m a big fan of the former for its dedication to the bit. Here is your icon legitimized by a mainstream publication. What more do you need?

 

 

Amazing posterd on that website ..

I'm really happy: the premiere of Better Man in Russia, Moscow will be on Dec 21, a few days before official release.

The premiere is in the best cinema theater but not in the main hall.

 

Thanks to Paramount and producers for that.

 

---

 

The last time I watched there a premiere of

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 7 years ago!!

But the best experience has been with a retrospective screening of Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini. The hall is huuuuge (1500 persons) and I was happy to see a sold out for that old classics.

 

 

 

That is so exciting to hear Alex. :cheer:

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‘Better Man’ Review — Robbie Williams monkey movie is the best musical of the year

A review of the musical biopic, in theaters December 25th, 2024

 

There’s a solid chance that two musicals are going to make the Best Picture list at this year’s Oscars. Wicked is very good and is a massive smash, so I wouldn’t be too upset about the Academy Awards recognizing that. Emilia Pérez, on the other hand, is atrocious, and the sooner we all forget about it, the better.

 

You’re not likely to see Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End on the Best Picture list. It’s aggressively non-commercial, and it’s slow and extremely bleak. I loved it, though; I’m always here for a big swing, so I was predisposed to love a 2.5 hour musical that takes place after the apocalypse and stars Tilda Swinton, George Mackay, and Michael Shannon.

 

Another movie that probably won’t make the cut — but would absolutely deserve to — is Better Man, the new musical biopic of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. It’s the year’s best movie musical, without question. This is a biopic with a twist: “Robbie Williams” is here played by a CGI monkey, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes-style.

 

It’s a wild, audacious choice, and it totally works. Williams tells us in voiceover that he always considered himself a bit less evolved, that he often felt like a performing monkey… so, why not? It helps highlight the fact that the story is about isolation, about how you cope when you are experiencing a level of fame that vanishingly few humans have ever felt. As an audience member, you’re constantly holding that duality in your head — of course everyone’s staring at him, he’s [Robbie Williams]/[a monkey]!

 

For the uninitiated (read: my fellow Americans), Robbie Williams grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and considers himself a “chav.” When he was a teenager, he tried out for a new boy band called Take That, and soon he was on a rocketship to superstardom. That meant drugs, alcohol, women, a solo career, public feuds, disastrous relationships, and more, and, I should emphasize again, it’s all portrayed in Better Man by a CGI monkey.

 

If you’re thinking that you don’t know who Robbie Williams is, so you’re not sure how you’d feel about a jukebox musical where you don’t know the songs — and wait, did you say he’s played by a monkey?! — I can almost guarantee that you’ve heard at least one of his hits. He’s the man behind “Angels,” one of those easy-listening songs that seemed like it was always on the radio from about 2000–2003.

 

Even if you’re not familiar with the music, it won’t matter. Director Michael Gracey has staged each number impeccably, crafting imaginative visuals that make the music dance right off the screen. Some of these numbers are astonishing, and they’re so well-filmed that it makes Wicked’s direction look embarrassing.

 

See, for example, “Rock DJ,” which is shot to look like a single take. The boys of Take That dance down Regent Street — they hop on pogo-sticks, dance across a river of bouncy balls, leap from double-decker buses, and more, surrounded by hundreds of extras, in a musical number that also serves as a montage depicting their rise to pop sensations. It’s a visual feast for the eyes: a colorful, well-lit, pristinely-framed showcase for the music, the choreography, and the emotional core of the performances, never trading one aspect for the another. It’s brilliant, energetic, electrifying stuff.

 

The fun thing about Robbie Williams is that he’s a bundle of contradictions. He’s a wild-child popstar involved in numerous public scandals and responsible for many outrageous moments — he once said at a press conference that he was grateful to have been in Take That, and also four out of five Spice Girls… get it? He’s also, though, a classic, old-school style crooner at heart, someone just as happy to sing old Frank Sinatra standards as he is his own Britpop numbers. Better Man teases out those contradictions, forming what feels at first like a conventional rags-to-riches biopic but eventually becomes a compelling depiction of addiction and deep, deep pain.

 

At first, the film is backed by a voiceover describing Williams’ childhood — his relationship with his dad, his dream to make it out of his low-income beginnings, etc. Around the time Robbie leaves Take That to go solo, however, the movie gets weird. The visuals take a turn for the surreal, often depicting Robbie’s descent into addiction and shame as a technicolor spiral that intercuts quirky shots of a partying monkey with, say, frightening closeups of the monkey, sweaty and distended, passed out in his own vomit.

 

The effect is downright upsetting; this movie gets dark. Robbie begins to suffer from debilitating onstage panic attacks, represented in the film by other Robbie Williams Monkeys — past outfits, iconic music video looks, etc — sneering and snarling at him from the audience. Check out the “Rock DJ” music video and imagine the monkey version, and you’ll have a good idea how shocking the visuals get.

 

It all works because the monkey is so compelling. I don’t think it’s too much to say that this is, hands-down, the best CGI character I’ve ever seen, with apologies to the inhabitants of Pandora. Jonno Davies performed the motion capture and voices the character, and thanks to special effects by Weta and a lovely film grain, the result is seamless. The Robbie Williams monkey is able to emote as well as the human characters, occasionally getting closeups that convey a heartbreaking well of pain in a single gesture.

 

I have no idea if this movie is going to do well, especially in America. American audiences may have a difficult time understanding just how famous Robbie Williams is in much of the world, and that, despite the monkey, this is largely a true story.

 

On an artistic level, however, this is a resounding success. Music biopics — especially where the artist is involved — can be real hit or miss. This one isn’t afraid to dive deep, to show that Robbie Williams is an outrageously self-centered man who hurt the people around him… and deeply hurt himself. This is a musical with lots of sex, drugs, cursing, alcohol, self-harm, and, yes, a talking monkey. Give it a shot, and hopefully this movie will inspire others to take swings this big. After all, to quote a Robbie Williams album title, we want people to swing when they’re winning.

 

https://medium.com/everythings-interesting/...ar-994305b4c41d

Edited December 8, 2024Dec 8 by Sydney11

Very happy for you, Alex

Just seen the first TV ad for Betterman :w00t: It's quite a short version of the ad used on YT which is a shame really, maybe they efited it because of the language..

Edited December 8, 2024Dec 8 by Sydney11

Dec 8, 2024 11:39am PT

 

Finalists for Visual Effects Oscar Revealed Ahead of Shortlist Voting: ‘Wicked,’ ‘Dune 2,’ ‘Mufasa’ and More (EXCLUSIVE)

 

Update (1:42 p.m. PT): Sources have confirmed to Variety that David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy,” an adaptation of the classic television series with Ryan Gosling is among the visual effects finalists.

 

As the Oscars shortlist voting period looms, the race for the coveted best visual effects category is heating up.

 

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch notified the artisans of the 20 films advancing to the next round just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Through multiple sources, Variety has confirmed 18 of the finalists that are still in the running. Shortlist voting runs from Monday, Dec. 9, to Friday, Dec. 13, and the field reflects an overwhelming amount of IP and dazzling technological achievements. From the expansive deserts of “Dune: Part Two” to the chaotic multiverse of “Deadpool and Wolverine,” the finalists exemplify the artistry and innovation that define modern artisans.

 

“Alien: Romulus” (20th Century Studios)

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.)

“Better Man” (Paramount Pictures)

“Civil War” (A24)

“Deadpool and Wolverine” (Marvel Studios)

“Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)

“The Fall Guy” (Universal Pictures)

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (Warner Bros.)

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Sony Pictures)

“Gladiator II” (Paramount Pictures)

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (Warner Bros.)

“Here” (Sony Pictures)

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Studios)

“Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Pictures)

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (Paramount Pictures)

“Spaceman” (Netflix)

“Twisters” (Universal Pictures)

“Wicked” (Universal Pictures)

 

Paramount Pictures has three films vying for consideration with Ridley Scott’s epic sequel, “Gladiator II,” Michael Sarnoski’s horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” and Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams biopic “Better Man,” where the British musician is portrayed by a CGI Monkey in a motion capture performance by Jonno Davies.

 

https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/oscars...024-1236242249/

Excited for you Alex ^_^

 

I'm loving this gorgeous coat at the Cologne premiere :wub:

 

Afterparty ROME DEC 6th

 

 

 

 

Video thanks to Pier Paolo Mocci

 

 

 

Loving the grey :smoke:

 

 

 

‘Better Man’: How Weta’s Emotive CG Monkey Became the Star of the Robbie Williams Biopic (EXCLUSIVE)

 

“There’s a very organic nature to crowds and the way they react to the music, and it’s very hard to capture that digitally,” Millar says, sharing in a lighthearted way his recollection about a shoot at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Williams had two concerts coming up so the filmmakers planned to use the performances to capture live crowd plates in a short window of just minutes on each night.

 

“We had about 12 cameras rolling simultaneously, trying to cover off all the different angles that we needed to,” he relates, noting that the audience was informed upon arrival that they were going to be in the movie. “It was slightly problematic, though, because the first night was Sunday night, and the British public had been drinking since about lunchtime. We basically finished that first night and we got nothing.” Fortunately, the second concert was on a Monday. “Everyone had been at work. So, you know, people were more sober.” It was a nail biter — but they got the shots.

 

 

I cannot remember if Laura was at the Sunday or Monday night filming :P

 

 

Full article in link below :

 

 

https://variety.com/2024/artisans/awards/be...pic-1236241333/

 

@1866221487473979696

Edited December 9, 2024Dec 9 by Sydney11

Ladies, thank you for kind wishes!

Very appreciate you!

 

I so did liked this video editing - well done.

 

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Great 30-sec TV advert.

Have you watched this one during last weekend?

 

 

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Some other videos

 

 

 

‘Better Man’: How Weta’s Emotive CG Monkey Became the Star of the Robbie Williams Biopic (EXCLUSIVE)

 

“There’s a very organic nature to crowds and the way they react to the music, and it’s very hard to capture that digitally,” Millar says, sharing in a lighthearted way his recollection about a shoot at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Williams had two concerts coming up so the filmmakers planned to use the performances to capture live crowd plates in a short window of just minutes on each night.

 

“We had about 12 cameras rolling simultaneously, trying to cover off all the different angles that we needed to,” he relates, noting that the audience was informed upon arrival that they were going to be in the movie. “It was slightly problematic, though, because the first night was Sunday night, and the British public had been drinking since about lunchtime. We basically finished that first night and we got nothing.” Fortunately, the second concert was on a Monday. “Everyone had been at work. So, you know, people were more sober.” It was a nail biter — but they got the shots.

I cannot remember if Laura was at the Sunday or Monday night filming :P

Full article in link below :

https://variety.com/2024/artisans/awards/be...pic-1236241333/

 

@1866221487473979696

 

 

Haha -we were at the Monday night and were fairly sober :lol:

Question - Alex - if there are no GG nominations for the film other than Forbidden Road -does that mean that the CGI work won't get any recognition?

 

Is the soundtrack the only element of the movie that will get recognised for an award now and in the future do you think?

Question - Alex - if there are no GG nominations for the film other than Forbidden Road -does that mean that the CGI work won't get any recognition?

 

Is the soundtrack the only element of the movie that will get recognised for an award now and in the future do you think?

Yes, unfortunately there are no any other nominations on GG.

I thought there could be also Screenplay and possibly Best Musical, Comedy.

Actually GG is about media, not about critics while not many media had a possibility to watch the movie.

Anyway, this movie season looks much stronger than few last years before so it's OK.

 

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Regarding persprectivies for another awards I have a great feelings Better Man will get some good awards.

Have you heard about The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2025 news? :)