From “Cabaret” and “A Star is Born” by way of to “The Lion King” and “Les Misérables,” a mesmerizing array of musical motion pictures have gained on the Golden Globe Awards. For near a century, audiences have been captivated by song-filled tales created by musically-enthused filmmakers – and the 2024 lineup from the style provides plenty of cinematic surprises.
This yr’s eclectic record of musical film releases features a Disney animation, “Moana 2,” and a DC Comics sequel with Girl Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker: Folie À Deux.” There’s “Depraved,” a blockbusting behemoth that serves as an eye-popping prequel to “The Wizard Of Oz,” in addition to a cartel-centered operatic crime comedy, “Emilia Pérez.” There’s additionally “Piece By Piece,” a Pharrell Williams biopic advised by way of the medium of a LEGO animation. The record goes on and on.
The tumultuous life story of chart-topping British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams is the topic of one other musical biopic launched in 2024, albeit with a little bit of a twist. For “Higher Man,” the famed U.Okay. musician is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee. Sure, it’s the true story of the Take That pop star with a proverbial “performing monkey” within the lead function.
For those who’re a fan of Robbie Williams, you could be happy to know that not all of his facial options are hidden on the massive display. “They’re my eyes on the monkey,” chuckles the singer, chatting with goldenglobes.com by way of Zoom from Switzerland. “You realize, that’s the magic of cinema. They mapped my face as a part of the method. You go right into a cage with 150 cameras and also you’re requested to tug 120 totally different facial expressions. It’s unimaginable.”
Why a CGI chimpanzee? “Oh, I simply love eccentricity,” enthuses Williams. “I really like the surreal, so it made full sense to me when [‘Better Man’ writer-director-producer] Michael Gracey pitched the concept. I don’t suppose we’d have had as many individuals speaking in regards to the movie had we not had the monkey in it. It’s uncommon, and that’s precisely why I adore it.”
Over time, a choose variety of jukebox musical biopics, together with Elton John’s “Rocketman” and Freddie Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” have been criticized for sugarcoating the reality or glossing over among the finer biographic particulars of a narrative. With “Higher Man,” Williams is adamant that the R-rated narrative may be very true-to-life.
“It’s been identified to me that it’s very uncommon to be so prepared to disclose a lot about my problematic character,” the 50-year-old admits throughout our candid Zoom dialog. “I solely notice it’s uncommon when folks say, ‘Hey, that’s uncommon.’ And I am going, ‘Is it? Okay.’ The place the opposite biopics have needed to be sanitized as a result of their folks worry for his or her mental property, I lean into being problematic. I’m okay about exhibiting you my demons. I’m okay with exhibiting you precisely what they seem like. The place authenticity is worried, my story and my movie works. It could not have occurred in that order, however that’s definitely the way it felt.”
Lots of the musical film contenders for the upcoming 82nd Golden Globe Awards function unique songs. For “Moana 2,”Auli’i Cravalho belts out “Past.” For “Emilia Pérez,” Selena Gomez sings the intoxicating “Mi Camino,” whereas Zoe Saldaña rocks out with “El Mal.” For “Higher Man,” Williams spent months making an attempt to create a significant new observe for the film’s closing credit.
“I’d despatched just a few songs to Michael Gracey over the months and years earlier than the movie got here out,” reveals the singer. “He would at all times say to me, ‘No, that’s not it. No, not that one.’ Then I remembered a narrative about ‘Lose Your self’ and ‘8 Mile.’ Eminem despatched the tune to the director of the film, who advised him, ‘It’s not adequate.’ However it ended up being within the film.”
Williams pauses for thought and unintentionally nudges his New Children On The Block baseball cap into body. He smiles earlier than concluding: “With all the pieces that I used to be sending over to Michael, I stored pondering, ‘No, he’s bought this mistaken. What does he know? Stick to creating a movie and I’ll do the music.’ However then I noticed the movie and I spotted fully what was wanted. On the finish of the movie, you simply want a hug. That’s after I set about making a tune that was a large hug for the viewers, together with [co-songwriters] Sacha Skarbek and Freddy Wexler. ‘Forbidden Street’ is the end result.”
Will an all-new musical win within the Finest Film – Musical Or Comedy class on the 82nd Golden Globe Awards? And who will stroll residence with the Golden Globe for unique tune? Discover out when the glittering ceremony airs dwell on CBS on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET