Better Man

Thanks Liz! Yes, I did. The audience (400 people) clapped and sat until the end of the credits (Forbidden Road and Feel). All people (50 people) what I've asked, answered me they liked or very liked the movie! Some of them were surprised how good it was. Me personally really don't remember when I watched the movie better for last 6 years - well, I think Green Book (2018), Amsterdam (2023), The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022), Doctor Sleep (2019), Joker were bigger and cooler.

The interview with Robbie for Variety. It starts on 1:04 hour. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xO8aqds4Pkbhy11Hv37Kb

Really historical place. And it's around 60 000 people arena.

40-min interview with Jonno. He starts on 18:00. 3qx9XPbYMmk

So, watched the movie yesterday. Better Man is SO good!!! The movie is full of metaphors, with great casting and with many creative moments. And yes, I got the tears for 2 or 3 times :) I will not say more - waiting for your reaction! dkxTmVaJgkg

Posting this here, because the questions is rather far from the movie stuff. The interviewer wasn't shy to ask some of them )) 5AjZZVb2_xY

I've seen one or two another pics from the GN show - there are dancers around him. So, I suppose he performed Rock DJ then? Or maybe it was a mixture between few songs, including Forbidden Road

A few more interviews: A great letter in the end! sjuYqbaUp78 I feel a chemistry between Rob and this lady :) Because...well, I have a chemistry between me and this lady too :)) Anyway, I suppose there is a good chance to see Robbie and Estopa Spanish band at the same scene next July. Uz714oCro9g

Definitely will read the movie script after its premiere. How many scripts have we ever read in our lifes? :) + Some new promo interview u512EKN9o3Q QytLFZkqNQM

Full video version of this interview. AbCAOJvkpKs

Thanks for posting this review, Tess! Consequence is one of the most respected pop media sources in Internet. They write a lof of reviews on albums, movies, songs. Following them and read during last 7-8 years. So, A- is amazing mark. Usually 2-3 movies per award season could get A, etc.

So, I recommend you do not to be upset too much. And I'm posting this new and unofficial remix for giving you better mood. Also a good adoption for the song. -UIEx0h-WHE

I moved all today's Forbidden Road posts to this thread: http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?s...20&start=20

Well, guys, yes, it's a pity. Did you read the article where Rob told he wanted to use another song for end titles but Michael convinced him to change it to Forbidden Road? Well, Rob felt something in advance :) Well, let's say it's a regret mistake but: - it still a great song and who knows, maybe after its premiere some people will hear it as Robbie's trademark song (i mean the people who didn't know Robbie so much) - it'a the Oscars mgmt mistake too. If they choose it for semifinal it means they were not so attentive to their rules so much. And what's more important because of this their mistake another song was out. So it's not a good advert for Oscars. - for Robbie... well, knowing him, it would be a motivation to him to record another song for win.

Thank you! Frankly speaking I even don't know an exact tracklist of the OST, trying don't look at its cover. But I'm happy he added (about this fact I do know) Something Beautiful :) --- Regarding translation - actually our lyricists can do a great job sometimes and even with translation it sounds well. One of my faves musicals is Sound Of Music have two versions: in English and in Russian. Both are great. But of course it's a classics and they had much more time to prepare a great texts :) So, yes, I'm sure you're right about original texts

Hi Liz, thanks for asking. Yes! Tomorrow there are will be 2 screenings in Moscow + on Tuesday, Dec-24. So I want to go twice. Unfortunately the movie will be be shown with translation, not in English. So it will be strange to hear Robbie but not with his voice. But it's not a big problem :) More important - I hope they will not translate songs ))

20.12.24 update Awards Nominations (33) 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 Golden Globes 2025 - 05.01 - Best Original Song (Robbie Williams - Forbidden Road) 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) 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)

UK Fans troll US culture as Robbie Williams jokes about being ‘Saved by lack of fame’ in the US By Jasmine Alappat Modified Dec 19, 2024 04:23 ET https://www.soapcentral.com/humor/uk-fans-t...ed-lack-fame-us If you want to get high...to laugh, just check out this link :) @1869566006232059961

It's online now. Good talk from the beginning but still better to listen it aftet the movie's watching. Review: Better Man, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and How to make Millions before Grandma Dies Boyd Hilton and Arifa Akbar join Tom to review: Better Man, the Robbie Williams biopic with a twist – he’s depicted as a Monkey. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the Almeida theatre’s new production of Tennesee Williams' play with Daisy Edgar-Jones and Kingsley Ben-Adir. And How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies, a new film from Thai director Pat Boonnitipat about family relationships, memories, death and inheritance. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Corinna Jones https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00260tg

Robbie Williams poses for a portrait to promote the film "Better Man" on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in New York. Matt Licari - invision linkable, Matt Licari/Invision/AP

Movie Review – Better Man (2024) December 19, 2024 by Robert Kojder During a conversation exploring the possibility of a biopic, British popstar Robbie Williams told well-regarded musical director Michael Gracey that he saw himself as a monkey performing for others. That became the window into telling the story of this singer/songwriter with Better Man, a film that, as the title implies, also shows that Robbie Williams is self-aware of his flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings without being afraid to put them front and center. Yes, rather than go through the arduous casting process, Michael Gracey ran with that comment literally, making the creative choice to have the pop star played by a CGI monkey (voiced by Jonno Davies, with Robbie Williams lending his vocals.) It’s a smart move to roll a short clip of subject and filmmaker conversing before the film starts proper, not just because other parts of the world might not be familiar with Robbie Williamss music (consistently accidentally reading it as a biopic about musician Robin Williams if you’re anything like me), but also since this is such a bold concept for a biopic that it’s helpful to get an idea of what this man looks like and the personality he puts out there before it’s all monkey business. Going one step further, this turns out to not fall into the trappings of a flailing gimmick but ties into themes of pressures of the music industry, fame causing stunted behavior, family drama, and an unflinching portrayal of self that doesn’t smooth over any rough edges. Better Man is an invigorating biopic; a shot of adrenaline to the most overplayed, clichéd genre. After this, no one should be allowed to make biopics (at least ones about musicians) unless they have an equally creative angle or some compelling X factor behind it. Simply put, this film puts most recent offerings from the genre to shame, especially the ones that get trotted out at the end of every year as familiar awards bait. Even though the life trajectory and story beats aren’t anything new to anyone who has ever seen a biopic about a musician before, it gets to be told with boundless imagination, typically coming from several dazzling musical sequences. Not only are they dynamic in presentation (whether it be jubilantly unfolding across the streets of London or something more melancholy regarding fatherly abandonment), but they are sometimes highwire concepts themselves; Better Man has one of the most thrilling, fantastically clever, visually stunning, and exciting takes on battling one’s demons. The characters (including Robbie’s family, friends, lover, hell, and even Oasis) don’t interact or react to Robbie Williams as a monkey. It’s a visual treat for us (this film would fall apart without the astonishingly expressive technical wizardry from Weta, who already have proven themselves as outstanding in this field when it comes to the recent Planet of the Apes movies) but another personal, self-deprecating, honest interpretation of how Robbie saw himself during these life stages. Initially, this feels like it will end up as a missed opportunity for further creativity or humor. One of the more surprising elements here is that the filmmakers (with Michael Gracey co-writing alongside Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson) are playing this material straight and not going for laughs. That confidence pays off, allowing a maximalist, melodramatic side to come out with sincere, absorbing emotional heft. That story follows a standard rise and fall structure, with Robbie Williams finding inspiration from his initially supportive singing father (Steve Pemberton), exhibiting a relatable drive to make his grandmother (Alison Steadman proud, getting his start in boy band Take That before his insecurities and worsening substance abuse and egocentric behavior gets him kicked out, stumbling into a rocky relationship with Nicole Appleton (Raechelle Banno), and then not only finding the courage to put some meaningful lyrics out into the world through a successful solo career but managing the anxieties that come with performing in front of humongous crowds while constantly struggling with drug addiction. Some of those aspects feel glossed over and aren’t as explored as they possibly could have been (the film is already 135 minutes, but some of it is given a broad strokes treatment), but it’s affecting anyway due to the creativity, artistry, musical numbers, and blunt honesty enhancing those character dynamics. Better Man is a biopic that starts with a confessional about being a narcissist and having a punchable face and ends up somewhere beautifully moving that perfectly captures the essence of that title. There is also a healthy dose of Frank Sinatra here, given that he was a major source of inspiration for Robbie Williams, so let’s say he and Michael Gracey did this biopic their way, and the result is something no one should want any other way. Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com https://www.flickeringmyth.com/movie-review-better-man-2024/

Seems it's some Canadian review on the movie. Totally bananas Robbie Williams biopic Better Man monkeys around in the best possible way In 2019, director Dexter Fletcher injected razzle and dazzle into the pop star bio-pic genre when he made Rocketman, a sumptuous musical about the rise, fall and rise again of Elton John, a dandy British recording artist from the 1970s with daddy issues, gold records and a raging cocaine habit. Flamboyant, theatrical, and with dark undertones, the film shouted its belief in the power of music as it sang and danced its way to a redemptive conclusion. Now here comes Michael Gracey, tasked to make a biopic about Robbie Williams, a British chart-topper from the 1990s with daddy issues, gold records and a raging cocaine habit. There are no rules saying the Australian filmmaker could not make a brooding but fantastical musical about a musician’s rises, falls, redemption, etc. But how could he do so without being accused of stealing Rocketman’s jet fuel? Hold my banana, Gracey said. In Better Man, Williams is portrayed by a CGI chimp-man – flat nose, head-to-toe hair and everything. (Williams voices his adult monkey-person self.) Call it a stunt, call it daft, call it Rocketman Meets Planet of the Apes, but don’t forget to call Gracey when the Academy Award nominations come out. Better Man is a triumph of cheek and imagination. Gracey attempts much but actually manages to accomplish all that he set out to do. In an early scene, Williams’s showbiz-minded father tells his boy that an entertainer needs to risk it all – “whatever it takes.” Good advice. Gracey, who also co-wrote the film, took it. As did the father, a boozing small-time entertainer played by Steve Pemberton, who later abandons his wife and young son to chase his own limelight. Why is Williams a chimp? Because that is how he sees himself, as a dancing monkey, hired to please and amuse. His dad, a devotee of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., drilled a give-them-what-they-paid-for ethos into his wide-eyed son. The story begins in Stoke-on-Trent, an industrial centre in Staffordshire, England. The city is portrayed as dreary, all soot, cobblestones and grubby pubs. (Why do all British stories always start in these gritty places? Doesn’t anyone grow up in lovely Cornwall or the bucolic Cotswolds?) After stealing the show in an elementary school production of The Pirates of Penzance, we fast forward to Williams as the youngest member of the successful boy band Take That. He dares to steal the microphone from the group’s lead singer during a performance. He’s brazen and ambitious but plagued by anxiety and self-doubt. Unmanageable, he’s kicked out of Take That, but rebounds as a solo star with hits such as Angel and She’s the One. He gets the girl too, but none of it is enough. Moody boozing and coke binging ensues. Aesthetically, Better Man is surreal and high-styled. Recreated concert performances are wild – the Knebworth Park scene literally goes ape – and the choreographed numbers are sophisticated. Musician biopic tropes are not avoided: the shifty manager, the boyhood chum left behind, the gold records smashed in a mansion-trashing meltdown. An underwater scene looks great but drowns in metaphor. I’m convinced Williams would not be a sympathetic figure if he were played by a flesh-and-blood actor. His self-pity is certainly unattractive. And, yet, his redemption feels earned by the time the film arrives to an outrageously sentimental finale involving a performance of the song My Way. The irony of Better Man is that a chimpanzee representation makes the man all the more human. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/r...keys-around-in/

Yes, I agree with you. One more official video about movie how it had been done - aslo keeping it before watching the movie itself. vRwWv6UkIvY Weta FX are some of the best at what they do for feature films, but, by their own admission, a lot of what they do are stunts and fight sequences. Even with Weta’s motion-capture transformations from actor to dragon or actor to ape, the usual way of shooting is to make the environment for motion capture as controlled as possible. Doing on-set MoCap to turn Robbie Williams into the dancing and singing monkey-version of himself in “Better Man” was the exact opposite of how Weta FX usually works. Big crowds, intricate dance choreography, and the very act of singing itself all set new obstacles for the visual effects studio to overcome. Weta FX has gotten plenty of practice animating creatures, but the breathing and particular muscle efforts involved in singing required even more innovation from the visual effects studio. “We had to do a lot of motion studies [with regard to singing] to make all that sound and all of that energy and all of that breath come out of a CG character,” animation supervisor Dave Clayton said. “It’s not just moving the lips. It’s so much more than that.” In the video below, you can watch members of the “Better Man” VFX team as well as Williams and director Michael Gracey break down their process for giving Williams (as well as actor Jonno Davies, who doubles for Williams) his simian shape in “Better Man.” https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/be...eta-1235078212/

New additional date (and final now instead of Helsinki)