Better Man director reacts to pushback depicting Robbie Williams as a monkey

As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for the unconventional, I find myself intrigued by the audaciousness of the Better Man biopic. The monkey-as-Robbie-Williams concept is, without a doubt, a daring leap into the realm of cinematic innovation.

Since I heard about the surprising casting decision of Robbie Williams playing a motion-capture monkey in the upcoming biopic “Better Man,” I’ve found myself quite perplexed along with many other movie enthusiasts. It truly is an unusual concept!

It’s not surprising to discover that when director Michael Gracey initially presented his idea, he encountered a lot of opposition from executives and investors who were hesitant about the film’s concept.

He said, essentially, the notion of the director from ‘The Greatest Showman’ narrating Robbie William’s tale was a hit – it was a clear success.

“The monkey aspect of it, no one wanted to hear about. It was the reason that it took so long to finance this film. And there’s a great quote, and I’m paraphrasing, but it’s anything of great importance, can’t help but go unrecognised as it bears no resemblance to anything already known.

“I believe that might be the issue. If you’re presenting something new and unfamiliar, it can be difficult for people to quickly understand it and say, ‘Ah, I see, that’s similar to something I already know.’

Robbie mentioned that he initially believed “The Masked Singer” wouldn’t succeed, but changed his mind after watching the hit ITV reality program.

Well, you’ve made it seem as simple as guessing The Masked Singer’s identity, and I chuckled at that! However, let me clarify, it was truly a challenge. It wasn’t an easy sell, as many weren’t keen on listening to it.

Fortunately, being an independent production, its unique concept was considered too daring for a major studio. However, we ultimately found the perfect team to bring it to life.

Williams exclaimed: “Consider the individual – truly visualize them – who put millions and millions of dollars or pounds into that concept, and think about their appearance! Incredible beyond words. Thank you, thank you, thank you! However, in my thoughts, I’m thinking something like, ‘What is this? A monkey? Here, take my money!’ To whoever they may be, my blessings to you.

Initially, even though Jonno Davies portrayed the character Williams who seemed like a monkey on screen, it was actually a human actor beneath the makeup. The transformation occurred during post-production. When Davies first got the role, he found it challenging to explain the concept to others.

He clarified, ‘When you say ‘scene,’ are you referring to the entire production? The character is a monkey, but perhaps in a flashback or dream sequence? Not so.’ Instead, it’s about the overall storyline, and the monkey represents his playful, self-aware personality as a performing monkey.

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I believe people can’t truly imagine the level of detail and realism Weta Digital brings without first seeing their work. Many may expect it to be flat, which makes me hesitant to keep quiet about how fantastic the end result will be.

He stated: “However, consider this – if we bring on board Michael Gracey, who boasts a rich musical and VFX background, he’d be ideal for narrating Robbie’s tale in a unique way. I believe it’s one thing to devise an idea, but it takes exceptional discernment to execute that idea effectively. And I think that’s exactly what he’s accomplished – he hasn’t overused the monkey as a gimmick.

This film offers a down-to-earth depiction and narrative of Robbie’s life, showing both the good and the bad aspects. What sets it apart from other musical biographies is its raw and revealing nature.

2024-12-19 18:35

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