Better Man

1.5 months until Oscars 2025 ceremony. All news, facts and funny moments around Oscars can be discussed here (if Better Man movie topic is not enough). ------ Just remind this week's happy news: Oscars Academy Awards - 02.03 - Best Visual Effects (Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs)[/indent]

Albums Charts for Better Man (OST) #5 - Australia #3 - Germany #1 - Ireland * #1 - UK ** (including Scotland #1) * It's 10th Number 1 album for Robbie in Irish Charts ** It's 15th Number 1 album for Robbie in UK Charts

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:)))

Robbie Williams admits he didn't record his high notes in Take That's 'I Found Heaven' Robbie Williams joined Nicki Chapman on Magic to chat about his new film Better Man, released in December 2024, along with the soundtrack. The film is a biopic about Robbie, and features many songs by Take That and Robbie, as it follows him throughout his life. The soundtrack to the film features re-sung versions of the songs, and Robbie said many are better than the original and he breathed new life into them. However, when talking about a Take That favourite from back in the day, 'I Found Heaven', he revealed that he didn't actually sing all of the notes he appeared to. Back in 1992 when the song was released, despite Gary Barlow and Robbie being the lead singers on that release, another vocalist was brought in to sing the higher notes. Robbie told Nicki: "Let me let you into a secret about 'I Found Heaven', you remember 'I Found Heaven'? In those verses of the original the high notes aren't me! That is a singer who was drafted in to do the bits that I couldn't do in the vocal booth at the time!" Robbie went on to sing some of the higher notes, saying: "Not me!" "And, so there's a bit of an inside story," Robbie finished, before going on to say it was "admin" having to re-record the songs. Robbie re-sung all of the songs for the soundtrack, including the higher notes, he couldn't previously reach, admitting: "What is created, and the end product is actually mind-blowing to me. Like, 'Rock DJ' is better than the original 'Rock DJ', there's loads of things in the Better Man soundtrack that have just bettered the original and breathed new life into them." CggiMJ59U1Q

Could it be the name of a new album? :D --- Better Man review – We are the chimpions January 24, 2025 by Noelle Adams Talk about good timing. Musical biopic Better Man releases in South Africa just as its central figure, British pop star Robbie Williams, is touring the country. And fans thrilled by the live shows locally will definitely want to extend the experience by checking out this crowd-pleasing take on Williams’s life, made with the performer’s rather unconventional involvement, and peppered with his biggest hits. Williams narrates Better Man, and provides vocals but a no point does he appear on-screen. Because, throughout, he’s portrayed as a chimpanzee, courtesy of CGI visuals and a motion-captured performance by Jonno Davies. It’s an odd creative choice, but proves less jarring in a two-hour-plus film versus a two-minute trailer clip. It also makes a bit more sense with greater context. More specifically, there have been a flood of big screen musical biographies in recent years, delving into the troubled lives of everyone from Freddie Mercury and Whitney Houston, to Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley and, most recently, Bob Dylan. Most of these icons are deceased, or in their golden years. Robbie Williams is just 50 years old, making new music and touring with vigour. Though it’s questionable why Williams is a receiving a biopic treatment now, the primate addition does put some distance between the singer-songwriter and the fictionalised take on his life, helping the project feel less like a documentary. It also drives home the cinematic approach of Better Man, because the film is far from subtle. At one point, Williams speaks explicitly about how the movie reflects his feelings about himself – which is as someone “less evolved.” Get it? Better Man, in fact, devotes a lot of time to conveying the star’s struggles with imposter syndrome; the insidious inner voices of depression; and anxieties about being found out as a talentless nobody who hides behind his stage persona, and the various iterations he’s passed through during a career that kicked off at just 15 when he joined boy band Take That. Narratively, Better Man may be a true story but there’s little we haven’t seen before for this niche genre. The film hits most of the same plot beats as Elton John-centred Rocketman, from the AWOL father and encouraging nan in the protagonist’s formative years, through a long downward spiral of self-loathing and addiction, right to a half-hearted suicide attempt and, finally, self-admission to rehab to change things around. The only difference is that Williams has supportive family and friends, who he is shown treating increasingly badly. In these moments, it’s clear that Better Man certainly isn’t an uncritical, ego-stroking exercise for its former bad boy star. In the midst of its familiar tune, the biopic does at least offer some fresh thematic explorations. It’s signposted in neon for viewers again, but Williams is obsessed with pursuing fame and audience adoration, as he’s convinced that these will provide the fulfilment he craves. But it becomes a desperate pursuit of hollow, transient highs. Ultimately, the film delivers the message that it’s about loving what you’re doing, and, by extension, yourself, as opposed to fixating on others loving you for what you do perfomatively – which is highly relevant in the era of algorithm- and metric-chasing influencers. Meanwhile, a couple of non-Williams focused moments give the film extra punch, like fiancé Nicole Appleton (Raechelle Banno) being forced to terminate her pregnancy by her record label, and Williams’s beloved grandmother Betty (Alison Steadman) breaking down as she realises her dementia is advancing. As already mentioned, Better Man lacks subtlety, but that’s Williams himself and he is well aware of, and unapologetic about, that fact. Director Michael Gracey, who made The Greatest Showman (and, interestingly enough, was initially lined up to direct Rocketman) leans into that fact, with trippy fantasy sequences, and high-energy musical numbers that use digital wizardry to seamless transition between scenes, creating the impression that whole segments have been captured in a single take, and giving things the air of a grand theatrical production with always-on-point choreography. On that note, Better Man features extensive use of CGI. At times it’s gratingly weightless and fake-looking, but that hasn’t stopped the film from earning a nomination for Best Visual Effects at this year’s Academy Awards. Clearly voters were still impressed by the convincing primate reimagining of the movie’s star. The point is that the flaws of Better Man are apparent, but Williams himself is a flawed figure, trying to do better, by himself and those around him. One of his signature songs is Let Me Entertain You, and that is evidently the guiding principle behind Better Man, which is always visually interesting and never boring. The film’s mental staying power may be limited, but in the moment it’s involving, rousing and even got the cinema audience to applaud at the end of screening I attended. Just like they were in a concert venue. How often does that happen? Narratively, Better Man, offers nothing new as a musical biopic, hitting almost every beat covered already in Rocketman, for example. However, that doesn’t stop the film from being an energetic and emotionally involving crowd-pleaser. Its highly unusual creative choices have actually paid off. 8/10 https://www.pfangirl.com/entertainment/bett...-the-chimpions/

I could add this podcast interview (w/o Rob) in the podcast thread but it's calm, positive and good for listening so I'm posting it here. Very good conversation from US bloggers: https://www.piecingpod.com/home/better-man-...ourtney-howard/

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In a recent interview for LA based podcast Robbie told the new album is coming out in May. https://onwithmario.iheart.com/featured/on-...ic-better-man-/

ARIA Albums Chart (Australia) #5 - Better Man (OST) The soundtrack to the new Robbie Williams biopic Better Man debuts at #5. The album features 13 old and new tracks by Robbie, including some re-recordings. It’s Robbie’s 15th top 10 solo album here. He reached #1 with Greatest Hits in 2004, Intensive Care in 2005, Rudebox in 2006, Reality Killed The Video Star in 2009 and The Christmas Present in 2019. As a member of Take That, he landed two top 10 albums. https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/a-great-day-for-gracie

Another interview for Heart Radio l-B2xjuT61Y

23.01.25 update Awards Nominations (46) for Better Man by far: Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA) 2024 - 20.11 - Best Original Song - Feature Film (Robbie Williams - Forbidden Road) - Best Music Themed Film, Biopic or Musical (Paul Currie, Michael Gracey, Craig McMahon, Coco Xiaolu, MaJules Daly) Rolling Stone UK Awards 2024 - 28.11 - The Film Award (Better Man) - Winner Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards (WAFCA) 2024 - 08.12 - Best Motion Capture (Jonno Davies) Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Awards 2024 - 16.12 - Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance (Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies) - Best Stunt/Movement Choreography (Slavisa Ivanovic, Ashey Wallen, Nicholas Daines, Spencer Susser, Tim Wong) - Best Special Effects (Luke Millar, Scott MacIntyre) - Original Vision Award Critics Association of Central Florida Awards - 02.01 - Best Hybrid Performance (Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies) DiscussingFilm Global Critic Award (DFGFCA) 2024 - 04.01 - Best Visual Effects Golden Globes 2025 - 05.01 - Best Original Song (Robbie Williams - Forbidden Road) Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) Awards - 06.01 - Best Visual Effects Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Awards - 06.01 - Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance (Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies) Critics Choice Awards 2025 - 12.01 - Best Visual Effects (Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs) The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2025 - 07.02 - Best Film - Best Direction in Film (Michael Gracey) - Best Screenplay in Film (Michael Gracey, Oliver Cole, Simon Gleeson) - Best Lead Actor in Film (Jonno Davies) - Best Supporting Actress in Film - Best Supporting Actor in Film - Best Cinematography in Film - Best Sound in Film - Best Original Score in Film - Best Soundtrack - Best Original Song (Robbie Williams - Forbidden Road) - Best Visual Effects or Animation - Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films - Best Production Design in Film - Best Costume Design in Film - Best Casting in Film The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) International Awards 2025 - 07.02 - Best Film - Best Lead Actor in Film (Jonno Davies) - Best Supporting Actress in Film (Alison Steadman) - Best Supporting Actor in Film (Damon Herriman) - Best Direction in Film (Michael Gracey) - Best Screenplay in Film (Michael Gracey, Oliver Cole, Simon Gleeson) Annie Awards 2025 - 08.02 - Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production (Shaun Freeman, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Carlos Lin, Seoungseok Charlie Kim, Kaori Miyazawa) Visual Effects Society Awards - 11.02 - Outstanding Visual Effects In a Photoreal Feature (Luke Millar, Andy Taylor, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs) - Outstanding Character In a Photoreal Feature (Robbie Williams) - Outstanding CG Cinematography (Blair Burke, Shweta Bhatnagar, Tim Walker, Craig Young) - Outstanding Composing & Lightning In a Feature (Mark McNicholl, Gordon Spencer de Haseth, Eva Snyder, Markus Reithoffer) Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Award 2025 - 12.02 - Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production (Robbie Williams - Forbidden Road) The BAFTA Film Awards - 16.02 - Special Visual Effects Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) - 23.02 - Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Feature Motion Picture (Supervising Music Editor: Timothy Ryan; Music Editors: Craig Beckett, Lena Glikson, Cory Milano, Liam Moses, Joe E. Rand, Chris Scallan, Emily Rogers Swanson; Vocal Editors: Noah Hubbell, Anna Muehlichen) Guild of Music Supervisors Awards nominations (GMS) - 23.02 - Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films (Jordan Carroll) Oscars Academy Awards - 02.03 - Best Visual Effects (Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, Peter Stubbs)

4UuSKWfeJ4Y Very good interview for Magic Radio

Yes, Misunderstood time was very pleasant period. Agree with you about good adding. 68apq7e9bpI

Let's hope it will be!

'Hey Liam...' - you know how to continue this phrase! And this phrase from Kodak Theater scene would be even more crazy :lol:

More and more connection to rock music around Rob's new album...

:wub: @1882426041039520110

Well, then he will need to go to the booooring party in the end? :)))

CONGRATULATIONS guys! Better Man gets an Oscar nomination just now - Visual Effects.

Today UK update Albums 01 Robbie Williams - Better Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (30,339) [29,916 physicals, 337 streaming, 86 downloads] 02 Gracie Abrams - The Secret of Us (7,194) 03 Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet (5,719) ;)

Of course, we would like more songs... Too many in his back catalog... Just wow when you want to choose the best ones... Anyway, in the credits after Forbidden Road there is Feel again. Maybe at least there they could put another one? Which one would you like to add there? ;) This is my choice, exactly this Guy's instrumental version: Or this ---- New interview with Alex Tucker: 6-bFVnoOz40

Interview for France Bnt15bY3xUg qiraXsdgaYo

And the latest from today 3YIkfCMDPvc