Movies

Better Man star says it was “liberating” playing a chimpanzee Robbie Williams

BBG News

As a gamer with a penchant for unique and challenging experiences, I must say that watching Better Man was a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The idea of portraying a well-known figure like Robbie Williams as a chimpanzee using motion capture technology is something I’ve never seen before.

Playing a famous actor on screen is usually tough, but it becomes even more difficult when you have to portray them as a chimpanzee.

When it came to the production “Better Man,” Jonno Davies encountered this unique challenge: he had to portray Robbie Williams, but not as a human – instead, as a chimpanzee, using motion-capture technology for his entire performance.

But it was a unique task that Davies ended up relishing.

As a fan, I can’t help but share my excitement when Michael [Gracey] revealed some sketches during the audition process. The intricate details immediately made me realize that it was the work of none other than Weta, a VFX company with an exceptional pedigree, one of the finest in the global visual effects scene. He shared this insight with Digital Spy.

In a sudden moment, you say, “Alright, I believe in you all, go ahead and perform. I’ll do my bit too.” It felt incredibly freeing. There was also an exhilarating feeling. I suspect many actors crave a challenge, and this definitely provided one.

You need to create an entirely new portrayal of someone familiar, one that will make them evoke both tears and cheers. Indeed, it’s a thrilling challenge to tackle.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’d put it this way:

As a gamer immersed in this cinematic experience, I found myself captivated by the remixes of Williams’ iconic tunes. The most unforgettable one was undoubtedly ‘She’s the One’, a track that took me on a journey through his romantic tale with Nicole Appleton, showcasing their ups and downs in an enchanting throwback dance sequence straight out of classic Tinseltown.

Raechelle Banno, who portrays Nicole Appleton, remembered that they filmed the majority of their relationship scenes initially since the dance scene and the following one were shot during the final week.

First, we were lucky enough to ride the rollercoaster before anyone else, and afterwards, we simply enjoyed the lightheartedness of the romantic atmosphere. Despite the heavy themes that followed, participating in the joy of that dance made it all the more enjoyable.

As a gamer, I found it incredibly innovative how they wove the narrative together, jumping back and forth through time. The meet-cute was just the beginning; we got to witness their future unfold before them, which made for an intriguing and unique storytelling experience.

Prior to the cinema debut of “Better Man” this holiday season, Williams also shared thoughts with Digital Spy, describing the biopic as a form of “healing process.

Better Man is released in UK cinemas on December 26.

Read More

2024-12-17 14:18

Previous post Meg Ryan shares rare update on her adopted daughter Daisy, 20, – after defending her actor son Jack against nepo baby criticism
Next post Elle Fanning haunts ‘A Complete Unknown’ with the eyes of a fading muse