It is no secret that whereas pop star Robbie Williams is well-known in lots of elements of the world, he is fairly obscure so far as celebrities go in the US. In consequence, a call was made to painting him as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee in his biopic Higher Man, and whereas that seems like a goofy gimmick, I will defend it as an amazing thought for a implausible film.
After watching Higher Man with my Paramount+ subscription, I am on board with our evaluation skewing positively on Robbie Williams’ story and his journey to stardom. Whereas it is easy to put in writing off this film as somebody who heard the monkey stunt and did not know something about Williams, I am right here to say anybody who overlooks it’s lacking out on an amazing film that is likely one of the extra thrilling biopics I’ve seen.
Higher Man’s Use Of A Chimp Helps Soften Some Of The Horrifically Unhappy Moments Of The Movie
Robbie Williams is a tongue-in-cheek performer, with a lot of his music hitting on a few of the struggles highlighted in additional depth in Higher Man. I believe a distinction could be that whereas singing about cocaine dependancy in a track could be unhappy, the sensation is fleeting due to its size. When confronted with it in a biopic, chimp or not, there are some darkish moments highlighted at size with some brutal honesty that’s onerous to look at.
Even earlier than Higher Man will get into the throws of drug dependancy or the very uncomfortable chimp orgasm scene, we see the heartbreaking origin of the place Robbie Williams’ quest for superstardom begins. On the coronary heart of the story is a baby in the end in search of his father’s approval and solely getting it when he reaches the very best peaks of his success.
To be fairly blunt, it is a brutally trustworthy and horrifically unhappy film that I’d say is a bit of too darkish for Robbie Williams’ model. Making the main character a CGI chimp helps soften the blow of a few of the terribly unhappy moments, and I will be trustworthy, there are occasions when it is wanted. I believe it is worthy of inclusion on our greatest biopics listing, primarily as a result of it does little to defend its topic in a few of his worst moments. I believe that with a daily actor within the function, some could really feel the film is simply too darkish for Williams in a means that his performances aren’t, and having a chimp actually helps.
The Story Will get So Good You may Cease Caring He is A Monkey
The unflinching image of Robbie Williams in Higher Man just isn’t nice. As an outsider trying in and largely unaware of the real-life occasions being portrayed, I used to be shocked that the movie would not shrink back from portraying him because the villain or downside in a few of its larger occasions. On the similar time, we get Williams’ perspective on the matter, and we all know why he makes the selections that he does primarily based on his upbringing and the mantra of changing into well-known that he carried on all through his life.
It is nuanced, it is traumatic, and it is so good you actually start to cease caring that Williams is being portrayed by a CGI chimp all through the film. That is to not say you will ever overlook it, particularly when he switches to having bleach blonde hair, however there will get to some extent very early within the film the place it simply stops being one thing to get hung up on. I will be so daring to say that should you get fifteen minutes into this film and you are still bugged by the very fact he is a monkey, you are not paying sufficient consideration.
I believe it is as a result of I ended caring that Robbie Williams was portrayed as a monkey that I started to understand Higher Man much more. To take such daring subject material starting from Boyband exploitation (which can be highlighted within the docuseries Boybands Without end) to drug abuse and have the stone even to contemplate not taking part in it straight down the road and doubtlessly win an Oscar for it. That is the sort of transfer that I’ve realized solely somebody like Williams would make.
Higher Man May’ve Flopped In Theaters, However The Ape Gimmick Was Sufficient For Me To Examine It Out On Streaming
Higher Man was a field workplace flop, however let’s get one factor straight: monetary success just isn’t all the time indicative of high quality. Loads of motion pictures with atrociously low scores on Rotten Tomatoes have topped field workplace charts this yr, so do not all the time comply with the cash in the case of film suggestions.
I believe Robbie Williams’ biopic has the potential to be a kind of motion pictures that will get much more buzz now that it is on streaming, or at the very least that is my hope now that anybody who has Paramount+ has the flexibility to test it out. After watching, the most effective praise I may give is that upcoming biopics have lots to stay as much as and might be a lot tougher to tune into with out this type of unflinching honesty entrance and middle of the narrative.
All this to say, perhaps you suppose it is silly that Higher Man determined to painting Robbie Williams as an ape. That is an opinion I’d reckon is held by many individuals who’ve no real interest in watching and will not be checking it out. I guarantee you, it is the largest hurdle to beat in trying out this film, however when you recover from it, you are going to notice prefer it did that it is not a giant deal within the slightest.
Reality be instructed, I watched it pondering of an angle in thoughts of whether or not the chimp choice ended up hurting a film that may’ve been strong in any other case. As I’ve proven extensively by many factors above, I do not suppose this film is nice until it was completed precisely the best way it was made. Everybody concerned on this film has one thing to be pleased with with what they achieved, and I daresay this film has impressed me to be taught a bit of bit extra about Robbie Williams and take a look at some extra of his music. Cannot say I felt the identical means after watching many different biopics!
Higher Man is on the market to stream on Paramount+. Test it out together with all the opposite high quality motion pictures on the platform, particularly should you bundle the streamer with Showtime.