Koceny
Joined Apr 2021
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Ratings647
Koceny's rating
Reviews82
Koceny's rating
WoW! WoW!
I cannot wait to write this review; my fingers are itchy to put it on paper while I still have it all in my head. And by all, I mean 2 point something hours of a roller-coaster ride packed with drama and comedy in almost equal amounts. You never realize how old you are until they make a movie about the pop star which becomes a legend, and he is of your generation.
I don't know where to start so I'll start at the beginning.
First of all, I didn't know much about British pop star Robbie Williams (further R. W.), except the songs I've heard and the dancing I've seen- which were both great. He seems like a nice man with a huge talent. I don't know he was writing his own songs.
In the movie we are following his rise and fall, then again- the rise.
R. W. Character is played by the CGI monkey. I was afraid that it would look like a musical mixed with Planet of the Apes but thankfully I was wrong. You get used at the very beginning that the monkey is human - CGI is great and motions are real and convincing, but the most striking are the eyes which are genuine and true.
In the past few years, I've seen a few musical biographies, but this one is by far the best, the only movie which can match it is Elvis's biography from a few years ago.
Better Man starts with the R. W. childhood, his obsession with the great stars of the bygone era, like F. Sinatra and D. Martin. He dreams about becoming a great entertainer and wonders whether he's got "it". And most of the movie he asks that same question- weather he is good enough or not. Weather he "deserves" such a fame. The tiny voice in his head reminds him constantly about his doubts and fears.
Fame came very quickly. At age 15 he is joining the "laboratory made" pop band Take That and from the young age he is thrown into the firepit of fame and fortune and everything that goes along with it. It's actually the classical "from rags to riches" story but told in the different way, in a form of CGI character. The character is layered, we see him in the different light, not just as a pretentious and full of himself, but also his struggles and fears, and insecurities. I suppose it's easy to identify with it, it's a primeval feeling. You may think that he is presented by the CGI monkey because he is misbehaving like a monkey or because he is immature like an animal, but I think he is presented like a monkey because he is raw and genuine and primordial. He is striped and displayed and that is the only way that you can trust the character or relate to it.
I think that this movie is well worth watching, speaking from the person which is not a fan of CGI packed movies. Cinematography and scenography are great, acting and directing also. Casting is very good, especially the casting of Take That member which are lookalike as I remember them from the posters. The best of all is the music and the choreography.
All in all, you won't regret watching it!
I cannot wait to write this review; my fingers are itchy to put it on paper while I still have it all in my head. And by all, I mean 2 point something hours of a roller-coaster ride packed with drama and comedy in almost equal amounts. You never realize how old you are until they make a movie about the pop star which becomes a legend, and he is of your generation.
I don't know where to start so I'll start at the beginning.
First of all, I didn't know much about British pop star Robbie Williams (further R. W.), except the songs I've heard and the dancing I've seen- which were both great. He seems like a nice man with a huge talent. I don't know he was writing his own songs.
In the movie we are following his rise and fall, then again- the rise.
R. W. Character is played by the CGI monkey. I was afraid that it would look like a musical mixed with Planet of the Apes but thankfully I was wrong. You get used at the very beginning that the monkey is human - CGI is great and motions are real and convincing, but the most striking are the eyes which are genuine and true.
In the past few years, I've seen a few musical biographies, but this one is by far the best, the only movie which can match it is Elvis's biography from a few years ago.
Better Man starts with the R. W. childhood, his obsession with the great stars of the bygone era, like F. Sinatra and D. Martin. He dreams about becoming a great entertainer and wonders whether he's got "it". And most of the movie he asks that same question- weather he is good enough or not. Weather he "deserves" such a fame. The tiny voice in his head reminds him constantly about his doubts and fears.
Fame came very quickly. At age 15 he is joining the "laboratory made" pop band Take That and from the young age he is thrown into the firepit of fame and fortune and everything that goes along with it. It's actually the classical "from rags to riches" story but told in the different way, in a form of CGI character. The character is layered, we see him in the different light, not just as a pretentious and full of himself, but also his struggles and fears, and insecurities. I suppose it's easy to identify with it, it's a primeval feeling. You may think that he is presented by the CGI monkey because he is misbehaving like a monkey or because he is immature like an animal, but I think he is presented like a monkey because he is raw and genuine and primordial. He is striped and displayed and that is the only way that you can trust the character or relate to it.
I think that this movie is well worth watching, speaking from the person which is not a fan of CGI packed movies. Cinematography and scenography are great, acting and directing also. Casting is very good, especially the casting of Take That member which are lookalike as I remember them from the posters. The best of all is the music and the choreography.
All in all, you won't regret watching it!
One of those movies where right after the first sequence you know that you will watch it again and again.
Movie lasts almost 3 hours but feels like only a few minutes have gone by. Right from the start you are on a roller coaster and there is no getting off till the end of the movie That's typical Luhrmann that once again hasn't disappointed.
I am glad this this music icon, the man who practically invented rock n roll, the King, was shown in a respectful way and with the credit that this legend deserves, and that the actor has not gone into caricature. By the way, acting is brilliant! The moves, the walk, the voice- that's the closes to Elvis as you can get, without looking as Elvis impersonator.
Movie is complex and yet very simple, with the moral point - listen to yourself. Be yourself. That's the only way you will be happy.
Movie lasts almost 3 hours but feels like only a few minutes have gone by. Right from the start you are on a roller coaster and there is no getting off till the end of the movie That's typical Luhrmann that once again hasn't disappointed.
I am glad this this music icon, the man who practically invented rock n roll, the King, was shown in a respectful way and with the credit that this legend deserves, and that the actor has not gone into caricature. By the way, acting is brilliant! The moves, the walk, the voice- that's the closes to Elvis as you can get, without looking as Elvis impersonator.
Movie is complex and yet very simple, with the moral point - listen to yourself. Be yourself. That's the only way you will be happy.
Hmm, where do I start? This movie is perfect in every single little detail - so I can just write the word - "perfect".
But I will write a few words anyway.
I will start with color, cause it's the aspect I understand maybe the most. Let me just say - well done. I have seen a few movies from the late 70's and early 80's, and this is just the right tone and filter, which extends through the entire movie, bringing that unmistakable late 70's atmosphere.
That blue! That dark blue that comes up every now and then in the movie (usually it's the color of the furniture, but also pops up here and there). That pink! Light pink/apricot pink wallpaper with the distinguish 70s pattern. We had the wallpaper with just the similar pattern, cca 1976.
All the shades of brown! Brown, brownish, brown with the grey undertone also present trough the movie. Works very well with the contrast of light blue, the colour of the police car in those days.
Bright red and bright yellow. The first two colours that hits you from the movie poster, but surprisingly they appear only later on in the movie, at the time when Arthur turns into the Joker. Prior to that, the general colour palette colours are toned down, darkened. Colour is here well used to build the story, to build the character. The power of colour should not be underestimated, I wish it is used more in the movies in such a powerful way as it is done here. Colour is building the character. Or the other way around, character finally shows his true colours which correspond to his mental state.
Joker makeup, or the clownish makeup. I love how he once again used the dark blue, instead of black for his "working makeup" on the eyes. Who knew that the dark blue can be more powerful then black? Makeup is perfect in unperfect way- looks like he's done his own makeup, which is of course more realistic. When the clown has the perfect makeup, it looks as it is a doll, a puppet. Here, it brings out the human side of the clown, and also brings you closer to the character.
I can go on and on about the colors, but there are also few other aspects of the movie worth mentioning.
Besides great directing and acting, the most striking one for me was the cinematography.
The camera! The movement of the camera. Brings you right into the center of the character. Camera is constantly right where is should be. Static or moving. Thankfully there is no shaky camera, which makes the movie very easy to watch. Perfectly shot in the subway.
Scenography. Tunnels all the time. Tunnels or hallways, or busses, narrow staircases, elevators, metro trains, cramped rooms, in short- tight spaces. Garbage on the streets, untidy and cluttered rooms. Makes you want to run out for the fresh air. But there is no fresh air. You can almost smell the garbage, since the scattered garbage and garbage bags are everywhere on the streets. There is no escaping the smell, the stink of the city and with the unemployment and crime and tension rising, it can drive everybody insane. Especially the physically unstable individual who was cut short of his medicine.. and turn him into the Joker..
But I will write a few words anyway.
I will start with color, cause it's the aspect I understand maybe the most. Let me just say - well done. I have seen a few movies from the late 70's and early 80's, and this is just the right tone and filter, which extends through the entire movie, bringing that unmistakable late 70's atmosphere.
That blue! That dark blue that comes up every now and then in the movie (usually it's the color of the furniture, but also pops up here and there). That pink! Light pink/apricot pink wallpaper with the distinguish 70s pattern. We had the wallpaper with just the similar pattern, cca 1976.
All the shades of brown! Brown, brownish, brown with the grey undertone also present trough the movie. Works very well with the contrast of light blue, the colour of the police car in those days.
Bright red and bright yellow. The first two colours that hits you from the movie poster, but surprisingly they appear only later on in the movie, at the time when Arthur turns into the Joker. Prior to that, the general colour palette colours are toned down, darkened. Colour is here well used to build the story, to build the character. The power of colour should not be underestimated, I wish it is used more in the movies in such a powerful way as it is done here. Colour is building the character. Or the other way around, character finally shows his true colours which correspond to his mental state.
Joker makeup, or the clownish makeup. I love how he once again used the dark blue, instead of black for his "working makeup" on the eyes. Who knew that the dark blue can be more powerful then black? Makeup is perfect in unperfect way- looks like he's done his own makeup, which is of course more realistic. When the clown has the perfect makeup, it looks as it is a doll, a puppet. Here, it brings out the human side of the clown, and also brings you closer to the character.
I can go on and on about the colors, but there are also few other aspects of the movie worth mentioning.
Besides great directing and acting, the most striking one for me was the cinematography.
The camera! The movement of the camera. Brings you right into the center of the character. Camera is constantly right where is should be. Static or moving. Thankfully there is no shaky camera, which makes the movie very easy to watch. Perfectly shot in the subway.
Scenography. Tunnels all the time. Tunnels or hallways, or busses, narrow staircases, elevators, metro trains, cramped rooms, in short- tight spaces. Garbage on the streets, untidy and cluttered rooms. Makes you want to run out for the fresh air. But there is no fresh air. You can almost smell the garbage, since the scattered garbage and garbage bags are everywhere on the streets. There is no escaping the smell, the stink of the city and with the unemployment and crime and tension rising, it can drive everybody insane. Especially the physically unstable individual who was cut short of his medicine.. and turn him into the Joker..