Moviefone Editorial

Tag: musician-biopic

  • ‘Michael’ Interview: Antoine Fuqua and Graham King

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    ‘Michael’, the long-awaited biopic based on the life and career of legendary musician Michael Jackson, opens in theaters on April 24th.

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    The film, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua (‘The Equalizer’) and produced by Graham King (‘Bohemian Rhapsody’), stars Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, as well as Colman Domingo (‘Sing Sing’) as Joe Jackson, Nia Long (‘Friday’) as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) as Jackson’s manager John Banca.

    'Michael' producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua.
    ‘Michael’ producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King about their work on ‘Michael’, developing the project, finding the right actor for the role, working with Jaafar Jackson, what moments from Michael’s life they wanted to focus on, which moments they wish they could have included or spent more time on, creating the costumes, and if Fuqua kept any mementos from the production.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Director Antoine Fuqua Talks ‘The Equalizer 3’

    (L to R) Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and Director Antoine Fuqua on the set of 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and Director Antoine Fuqua on the set of ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Antoine, what was your first reaction to reading John Logan’s screenplay and why you personally wanted to tell Michael’s story on the big screen?

    Antoine Fuqua: My first reaction was that it’s a solid screenplay about Michael Jackson. My second reaction was, “Who’s going to play Michael Jackson?” When I met with Graham, he introduced me to Jaafar, and the rest is history as far as that goes. But, yeah, it’s daunting when you read a Michael Jackson script by John Logan. It’s a great script and then we had to find Michael and Jaafar was no question the right choice.

    MF: Graham, to that point, I understand that you discovered Jaafar and recommended him to Antoine. At what point did you realize he was the right choice?

    Graham King: Over lunch. I had a lunch with Jaafar. I know the family well and I’ve known (his father) Jermaine since 1981. I met with Jaafar and during that lunch, I kept asking him if he was auditioning, because he was channeling Michael. It was very eerie and weird. He kept saying, “I don’t want to be an actor. I’ve got no interest in acting.” I kept saying, “Just be honest with me.” Because obviously I’ve produced a few movies, and you know what it is when you sit down with an actor who wants a job, and I kept thinking it’s reverse psychology. “No, I don’t want to act.” But he really didn’t. Two weeks after that lunch, I said, “If you’re up for it, let’s go through some training and bootcamp.” Kind of like what I put Rami Malek through to play Freddie Mercury, but at a much different level. In fact, the first time he spent a month with Rich + Tone, who were Michael’s choreographers, and they said, “We’re not sure. We’re not confident that he can get these dance moves down.” He called me that night and he said, “Give me some time and then come and see. I’ll show you what I’ve got.” I think it was about a month later, we both went to Hayvenhurst, to the house that he was staying in, which is Michael’s house in Encino. He just blew us away with his dance moves. I mean, he got it down. The only thing he asked for in that month was, he kept saying, “I want mirrors. Just get me long, tall mirrors and let me do my thing.” I mean, look at that performance now. It’s incredible.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.

    MF: Antoine, can you talk about the first time you did a screen test with Jaafar? Was that when you realized you found your Michael?

    AF: Yeah, it was. We did a screen test with Jaafar, and he came out as Michael. It was my first time seeing him in person as Michael, and I was kind of blown away just on his whole presence. That got me right away. Then we put him in front of the camera and started filming him doing different things. He would sing a little bit and dance a little bit. Then me and Graham were sitting there, and we asked Jaafar a question. I can’t remember what it was, but he answered it as if he was Michael and tears started flowing around the room. Our cinematographer was crying. I looked back, he had tears in his eyes. We were all trying to hide it, but he really answered in such an honest, pure way. He’s never acted in his life. I just thought, “This guy’s special.” That was the moment for me. It was just off the cuff. He didn’t know it was coming. I wanted to see if he was in the moment. Was he just here in makeup or was he in the moment? I threw something at him, and he just paused, and he thought about it, and he answered. It was just so beautiful, elegant, honest, and pure. I was like, “This Jaafar is special.”

    MF: Graham, why did you want to focus on this specific time in Michael’s life, and how do you think your experience producing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ prepared you to make this movie?

    GK: I guess I’ve made a career out of taking these iconic artists or people like Muhammad Ali, Howard Hughes, and Freddie Mercury, obviously, and showing the world a side that they’ve never seen before and humanizing them, these iconic people. I think it’s such a challenge to find that three act structure to make it an entertaining film and not a documentary. You kind of have fun with it. I have fun with it. Of course, there is also the music side, having the rights to Queen’s catalog and now Michael’s catalog, and really digging into the songs we’re going to use and the time periods of the movie. I was at Dodger Stadium in 1984 at the ‘Victory Tour’ when Michael quit. It was the most amazing organic third act drama and conflict moment you could ask for. You couldn’t ask for it any better. A writer couldn’t write it any better than that. I remember talking to Michael’s brothers about it, “Did you know that he was going to do this?” They were like, “No, we had no idea, and we kind of thought he was playing at the time. We didn’t know he was serious.” So that was sitting with John Logan and Antoine and saying, “Let’s head for that moment and make that the pinnacle point of the storytelling and put Joe at the side of the stage,” because he’s going to tell Joe, and he does it in front of 50,000 people at Dodger Stadium.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson.

    MF: Antoine, can you talk about recreating iconic moments in Michael’s life like the making of the ‘Thriller’ video and his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary show and was there any one moment that you wish you had more time to explore?

    AF: I mean, everything. Right? Because being a director, you never have enough time. But it’s the quiet moments you got to get just right. It’s really the quiet moments. The bigger moments we know, the performances, and we knew what we needed to do. It was the more quiet, intimate moments that you hope you capture the spirit of Michael in each moment. What’s interesting with Jaafar is that we would try different things to find the right tone, and the right frequency. Again, Jaafar’s never acted before, but he was so good that I would forget. We’d go to Jaafar, try something, and he would nail it. Then we would realize, “This guy has never acted before in his life, and we’re throwing these things at him.” He would come through with flying colors every single time. I don’t remember him missing too many beats at all. But making the bigger moments was magical. Because of the authenticity of the film, it lives in all the real places like Hayvenhurst, we had where he recorded ‘Off the Wall’, where he shot the ‘Thriller’ video, and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium where Motown 25 took place, all real places. You get chills whenever you go to those kinds of places and remember those moments. The idea that we had the opportunity to recreate it and do that was a little of an out of body experience at times. It’s a big responsibility to get it just right. So, Graham and I, we really would study what it was and look at what we’re doing and compare it. Because we knew Michael’s audience, they’re going to do that, every little move. So, it was daunting, but exciting and magical. When we shot the ‘Thriller’ video, we had a full moon every night, which was amazing. I’ve never seen a crew more excited about a scene. When I got dropped off on the set, the grips and everybody had on wolf masks, and they were dancing around to ‘Thriller’. It was like this big event. It was like a movie within itself. So, that to me was a special day.

    MF: Graham, is there any moment from Michael’s life during this period that you wanted to put in the film but just couldn’t because of time?

    GK: Certainly, the ‘Dancing Machine’ era, when Michael was, I think, 16 or 17, around that era. We thought about putting that in. But when you’re making a film, you’ve got to have a certain running time and you can’t tell every story you want to tell, so you’ve got to make sacrifices. That cut from young Michael at the county fair to Michael at the window with Quincy Jones, I think that time cut worked well for our story as opposed to stopping in different times like the ‘Dancing Machine’ era.

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, Antoine, can you talk about working with your costume designer Marci Rodgers to recreate all of Michael’s famous outfits for the film, and did you keep a sequenced glove for yourself as a memento?

    AF: I got the producer sitting here, I’m not going to tell. No, I didn’t keep anything. I wish I could. I mean, Marci did a great job, but we had a great crew and a great team. They really did their homework, and she did her homework. She would design these jackets, like when he’s holding the Grammys, and the jacket was about 15 pounds. It had all the jewels and everything. I thought, “Did it have to feel this heavy for Jaafar?” It was authentic though. Those were the real Grammys. Those were Michael’s Grammys he’s holding. I mean, the whole crew, they really cared so much about getting it right, every little detail.

    'Michael' opens in theaters on April 24th.
    ‘Michael’ opens in theaters on April 24th.

    What is the plot of ‘Michael’?

    Discover the story of Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson), one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Michael’?

    'Michael' opens in theaters on April 24th.
    ‘Michael’ opens in theaters on April 24th.

    List of Musician Biopics:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Michael’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Michael Jackson Music on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Better Man’

    Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams" in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Opening in theaters on December 25th, ‘Better Man’ is a distinctly unconventional music biopic (at least in one respect), since it portrays British singer and pop star Robbie Williams as a CG simian for its entire running time.

    Directed by ‘The Greatest Showman’s Michael Gracey, it tells the performer’s story with humor, heart and no little sense of honesty, since it lets Williams reveal his inner demons even as his fame takes off like a rocket.

    Does ‘Better Man’ sing its song effectively?

    Jonno Davies and Robbie Williams as Robbie Williams in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Jonno Davies and Robbie Williams as Robbie Williams in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    We have seen a glut of musical biopics in the last few years, primarily driven by the box office and Oscar-winning success of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in 2018. But while that movie chose to smooth off many of its subject’s raw edges and did Freddie Mercury no favors in its portrayal, ‘Better Man’ heads off on a different path.

    Certainly, there are the landmarks we expect to visit along the way in a coming-of-fame story such as this –– the humble upbringing, the first taste of success, the troubled parentage of so many big stars.

    ‘Better Man,’ while it contains plenty of that, is also, like the much-dismissed ‘Rocket Man,’ which gave Elton John more of warts-and-all treatment, infused with Williams’ cheeky delivery and performing style, but manages to do a solid job of peeking beneath the brash exterior to find the haunted, self-doubting soul within, while still being riotously entertaining.

    Script and Direction

    Director Michael Gracey on the set of 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Director Michael Gracey on the set of ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    The screenplay, by Oliver Cole, Simon Gleeson and director Michael Gracey runs the gamut from the standard biopic stuff to some inventive and emotional moments drawn from Williams’ own life, while selectively choosing which chunks to dramatize.

    Naturally, not everything makes the cut and with Williams providing the voice and rights in order for the movie to happen, there are moments where you feel his trying to excuse certain things. Those are very few and far between, though as the major takeaway from the script is its painful honesty about how much Williams has dealt with –– and continues to deal with –– in his life.

    Some performers hide from their problems while singing on stage; not Williams, who has always faced his demons (here represented as younger versions of himself threatening him from the audience). He’s not afraid to detail his addictions and indiscretions and the whole effect draws you to empathize far more with him than a simple hagiography might.

    As director, Gracey (who previously made ‘The Greatest Showman’ certainly knows when and how to deploy the musical moments, and stages them effectively, with certain sequences such as Williams’ song ‘Angels’ tied to his grandmother’s death proving actually moving. Though the occasional moment dives a tough too far into sensationalism (such as a chaotic battle between the singer and his various past incarnations, a literal battle with his demons), this is more than the sum of its parts.

    Cast and Performances

    Williams is of course the focus here, but there are some wonderful supporting performances that help to bring his world to life.

    Robbie Williams as Robbie Williams

    Robbie Williams in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Robbie Williams in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    With Jonno Davies providing the performance capture and much of the dancing for the “Williams” ape character when he’s an adult (combined with Williams’ vocals and voice work during the non-musical moments), the simian take on the singer feels authentically him, capturing his essence and boasting some fantastic effects work from the Weta team, who after all have no small experience with this sort of creature animation thanks to the ‘Planet of the Apes’ movie.

    It’s most impressive that you stop thinking of “Robbie” as an effect and simply buy him as an avatar do for the singer before long.

    Steve Pemberton as Peter Williams/Pete Conway

    Pemberton, a veteran British comic performer (and one part of the League of Gentlemen troupe), is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as Williams’ father, one of the key elements in his life. He left the family when Williams was young, but despite their estrangement, their complicated relationship is a huge part of what drives the man.

    Raechelle Banno as Nicole Appleton

    (L to R) Raechelle Banno as “Nicole Appleton” and Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams" in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Raechelle Banno as “Nicole Appleton” and Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    One of Williams’ great loves, the singer/songwriter and member of girl group All Saints is brought to welcome life by Banno. While she’s sometimes reduced to being a predictable musical biopic partner, their connection is more complicated, and Banno more than makes you see why Williams might have fallen for her beyond looks.

    Damon Herriman as Nigel Martin Smith

    Smith was the man who put boy band Take That together and launched Williams on his path to stardom –– even as the pair were oil and water (and there are some inventive, filthy descriptions for the manager, which we can’t repeat here). Herriman doesn’t always have much to do other than be the frustrated, pushy authority figure early one, but he does get some nuance.

    Alison Steadman as Betty

    Alison Steadman as “Betty" in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Alison Steadman as “Betty” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    One of the emotional support pillars for Williams through his younger life, Steadman’s performance as his grandmother is wonderful –– authentic and powerful, fully setting you up to feel as he does when she passes away.

    Supporting Cast

    The rest of the cast is a mixture of solid-but-surface-level portrayals of the other members of Take That and some more layered characters, such as Kate Mulvany as Janet, Robbie’s mother and Frazer Hadfield as Nate, his best mate. They in particular get some juicier scenes interacting with our troubled central figure.

    Final Thoughts

    Jonno Davies and Robbie Williams as "Robbie Williams" in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Jonno Davies and Robbie Williams as “Robbie Williams” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Once you are past the cognitive dissonance brought on by having a CG chimp play the central character through the entire film, the story settles into being a frank and funny account of Robbie Williams’ life.

    The movie itself may struggle slightly with American audiences, since Williams, for all his star power, has never been quite as well known here as he is at home. Still, if you let yourself go with the flow, this is a truly fascinating example of the musical biopic genre with enough invention and sheer charm to carry it through.

    Let him entertain you. You may also find yourself moved at times.

    ‘Better Man’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the plot of ‘Better Man’?

    ‘Better Man’ is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

    The film is told from Robbie’s perspective. It follows his journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist –– all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Better Man’?

    • Robbie Williams as the voice of himself
    • Jonno Davies as young Robbie Williams
    • Steve Pemberton as Peter
    • Alison Steadman as Betty
    • Damon Herriman as Nigel Martin-Smith
    • Raechelle Banno as Nicole Appleton
    • Anthony Hayes as Chris Briggs
    • Kate Mulvany as Janet
    Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams" in 'Better Man' from Paramount Pictures.
    Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

    List of Biopics Based on Musicians:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Better Man’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Robbie Williams Music on Amazon

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  • ‘A Complete Unknown’ Press Conference with Cast and Crew

    (L to R) Boyd Holbrook, Ed Norton, Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, and Elle Fanning attend Searchlight Pictures' 'A Complete Unknown' World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.
    (L to R) Boyd Holbrook, Ed Norton, Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, and Elle Fanning attend Searchlight Pictures’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.

    ‘A Complete Unknown,’ which stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, chronicles the music icons early days, from his initial arrival in New York to his taking the folk scene by storm with his powerful lyrics and catchy tunes.

    Directed by James Mangold, who previously brought the world the likes of ‘Walk the Line’ (about fellow music sensation Johnny Cash) and ‘Ford Vs. Ferrari’ (the true life tale of the clash between the car companies around the famed Le Mans race), the new movie sees Dylan shaking up his act by going electric and siring rock as the voice of a generation –– defining one of the most transformative moments in 20th century music.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘A Complete Unknown’

    With a cast that also includes Monica Barbaro as fellow folk pioneer Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, Edward Norton as veteran performer Pete Seeger and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, a character based on Dylan’s real-life girlfriend, artist Suze Rotolo.

    The movie has already made a strong entry into the awards race, and Searchlight Pictures held a virtual press conference with Mangold, Chalamet, Fanning, Barbaro, Holbrook and Norton.

    Here are 10 things we learned at that press conference, edited for clarity and length. ‘A Complete Unknown’ will be in theaters on December 25th.

    1. Mangold was Transfixed by the Real Story the Film is Based On

    Director James Mangold attends Searchlight Pictures' 'A Complete Unknown' World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.
    Director James Mangold attends Searchlight Pictures’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.

    Mangold and Jay Cocks adapted the script from Elijah Wald’s book ‘Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan and the Night that Split the Sixties.’

    James Mangold: It came about because there was a wonderful book by Elijah Wald that covered this period and did a really beautiful job of bracketing this moment, this convulsion that happened in Newport 65 and what led up to it. Then as Jay Cocks and I were developing the script, it occurred to me that this fable really should begin with Bob’s arrival in New York. I found it almost like a fairy tale. This idea of a young man, almost a man with no name or changing his name upon arrival with a few bucks in his pocket, carrying a guitar case and a Moleskine notebook with some scrawling in it, landing at the bedside of his hero in a VA hospital in New Jersey to sing him his song. He’s traveled all this way to sing. I mean, that this is a true story blows my mind.

    2. Chalamet Went Deep into Research for the Role

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    With a few years between landing the role and starting work on the film, the actor had time to prepare to play Dylan.

    Timothée Chalamet: It was daunting because it is Bob Dylan. At the beginning of the process, I wasn’t in the Church of Bob the way I am now, the way I’m a humble disciple now. The years I got to prepare for this role is unlike the time I’ve had for any other role. So at some point it stopped becoming work and it just became a process of osmosis and just living in the material, living in the world of the sixties. When it came time to shoot with Edward and Monica and Elle and Boyd, we were constantly throwing around little facts or tidbits or video clips or letters we were finding about these characters from the period.

    3. Monica Barbaro Also Threw Herself into Preparing to Play Joan Baez

    (L to R) Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    As with Chalamet, the ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ actor had a lot of work to get ready to be Baez.

    Monica Barbaro: When Jim cast me in the film, I had five months to learn to sing and play guitar, and that did not feel like a long time. So, I was very anxious. Yet during the strike, we weren’t allowed to work with our coaches necessarily, but it was this cool time to take the training and process the work and be a little bit more solo with it, stretch and try things on my own. I think that was around the time when I started working on singing and playing at the same time, which was just a whole other level of musical proficiency that I just did not have and did not understand. Sometimes it’s like patting your head and rubbing your stomach.

    4. Edward Norton Was a Big Fan of Dylan, Seeger and co. Before Taking on the Film

    Edward Norton in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Edward Norton in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Norton’s familiarity with the main players was a big plus in his own preparation.

    Edward Norton: I’ve marinated in the Church of Bob for my whole adult life. If you’re someone who came up in New York City in the theatre with even a passing interest in human affairs, Pete Seeger was a paragon. He was a folk singer who cleaned up the Hudson River. You knew about Pete Seeger. My first job as a waiter was right next to a restaurant that was in Pete Seeger’s house, and I used to go there all the time. I’ve played guitar for many years, and I know this music. So there’s the preparation that wasn’t… I didn’t walk into it happily naive to the ethos of it or the essence of it. Banjo was a new animal for me. They say dying is easy, comedy is hard. Well, I think guitar is easy and banjo is hard. So that was fun. That was a lot of fun.

    5. Elle Fanning Had to Get Creative Given Her More Fictionalized Role

    Elle Fanning attends Searchlight Pictures' 'A Complete Unknown' World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.
    Elle Fanning attends Searchlight Pictures’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.

    With Sylvie based on a real-life figure, but with more flexibility, Fanning had different challenges.

    Elle Fanning: You can do the facts and the searching, but really your bible is the script, and working with your actors and talking to Jim and carving out a story and a cinematic experience that people are going to care about. I felt like I cared so much for her on the page, and her emotion just jumped out at me. So I wanted to do justice of honoring know Suze and Bob’s relationship, but also making sure that that emotional weight was there in the part that I had.

    6. Boyd Holbrook Was Intimidated Playing Johnny Cash For a Big Reason

    Boyd Holbrook attends Searchlight Pictures' 'A Complete Unknown' World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.
    Boyd Holbrook attends Searchlight Pictures’ ‘A Complete Unknown’ World Premiere on Dec 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.

    Holdbrook had good reason to be nervous, since Mangold had already shepherded Joaquin Phoenix to an Oscar nomination playing Cash in ‘Walk the Line.’

    Boyd Holbrook: Yeah, it was kind of daunting in the beginning when Jim asked me to do it. But following Joaquin’s great performance, it was daunting in a way, but then as I understood what the part was about and its functionality in Bob’s life, it was a really exciting challenge. I didn’t play and sing at the same time. I think I lied to you, Jim. I think I told you I did! But there’s this extraordinary pressure that bottlenecks you down into the day of shooting where you have to figure this out. So for me it was really exciting to do it in a fresh way, and to see what this other version of Johnny Cash was, and a mentor to Bob. Maybe not a mentor, but a comrade.

    7. Mangold Hopes Audiences Seek Out Big Screens to See the Movie

    (L to R) Director James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet on the set of 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Director James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet on the set of ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Though so many movies go to streaming these days and something such as ‘A Complete Unknown’ might not be on the scale, of, say ‘Gladiator II,’ the director feels it deserves to be seen on a big screen.

    Mangold: I want all our movies to be seen on the big screen. That’s why we make them. I’ve been very lucky so far, particularly movies like this where it’s getting harder and harder to get them made and going out theatrically. But it is a singular experience, and I think that this movie has a kind of scale to it that really asks for that kind of experience. The enveloping sound of these concerts, whether intimate or gigantic, is just our sound team did awesome work on this movie, and it’s an anamorphic film, so it’s wide screen and just looks amazing on the big screen.

    8. Part of Chalamet’s Road to Dylan Included Visiting the Musician’s Old Haunts

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    The actor didn’t just dig into Dylan’s musical side –– he also made pilgrimages to where he was born in Minnesota.

    Chalamet: They were hugely informative. I don’t think they were informative in an academic sense. I wasn’t trying to excavate the exact places he walked or understand what homework was assigned on a specific day. I really just wanted to put myself in the environment, the weather, the roads, the iron ore of it all that gives him that grit in his voice, that to this day makes it so surprising and impressive that he wrote songs like “North Country Blues,” or “Rocks and Gravel” and stuff that was beyond a 19– or 20–year–old at the time. Again, it was a process of osmosis. It wasn’t anything prescriptive.

    9. Chalamet Sung Most of the Songs Live in the Film

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Though Mangold and his team had crafted the usual pre-recorded soundtrack for Dylan and co., Chalamet had his director’s confidence to perform on set.

    Mangold: We laid down what’ll be a soundtrack album full of music in the studio. But then we started shooting and the first scene we did, you guys have seen the movie, the first scene with singing in it that we did was the one in which he sings a song for to Woody Guthrie in the hospital. Timmy came to me and said, “I just want to do it.” There was this whole moment on set where people behind the scenes are, “Well, the shots will never cut. He’ll be singing a different tempo from one shot to the next and we can’t get a good recording here.” I have my hats off to Timmy because he was the one who was like, “I just want to do it.” And he did. All I did was run interference for him in the sense of going, “Whatever happens, we can fix it later.” We didn’t have to fix a thing.

    10. Fanning was Blown Away Hearing Chalamet Play for the First Time

    (L to R) Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Elle Fanning wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to Chalamet playing Dylan, but he really nailed the role.

    Fanning: The first day on set for me was when he’s singing, “A Hard Rain’s Going to Fall.” I am an audience member in that scene. I don’t have any lines or anything, but I remember I had such an anticipation, like butterflies. You could feel like this bubbling anticipation. The audience knew what they were about to see, but I didn’t know what to expect. Obviously I know he’s a brilliant actor, and I was, ‘Of course he’s going to knock it out of the park.’ He gave us a full concert.

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    What is the plot of ‘A Complete Unknown’?

    Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, ‘A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

    Who is in the cast of ‘A Complete Unknown’?

    'A Complete Unknown' opens in theaters on December 25th.
    ‘A Complete Unknown’ opens in theaters on December 25th.

    List of Biopics Based on Musicians:

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Complete Unknown’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bob Dylan Music on Amazon

    whpfrEDd

  • Movie Review: ‘A Complete Unknown’

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on December 25th is the new biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’, which chronicles the early life and career of legendary musician Bob Dylan.

    Directed By James Mangold (‘Walk the Line’), the film stars Timothée Chalamet (‘Dune: Part Two’) as Dylan, Elle Fanning (‘Maleficent’) as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) as Joan Baez, Ed Norton (‘Motherless Brooklyn’) as Pete Seeger, Scoot McNairy (‘Speak No Evil’) as Woody Guthrie, and Boyd Holbrook (‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’) as Johnny Cash.

    Related Article: Marisa Abela and Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Talk ‘Back to Black’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Director James Mangold delivers a brilliant and vibrant biopic about legendary musician Bob Dylan that completely captures his complex mystic and iconic music. Mangold wisely focuses on the early part of Dylan’s career, beginning with his arrival in New York, his rise in the folk music scene, and culminating with his controversial choice to “go electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

    Timothée Chalamet gives a career-defining performance as Dylan and is completely hypnotic in the role. The actor completely embodies the character with the awkward cool and determination of Dylan and is remarkable in the musical sequences, so much so that at times you forget you are not actually watching Dylan. Chalamet’s performance is supported by excellent turns from both Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Ed Norton as folk musician Pete Seeger.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Director James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet on the set of 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Director James Mangold and Timothée Chalamet on the set of ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    The movie begins in 1963 by introducing us to an awkward young song writer, who has just arrived in New York City and has already adopted the persona of Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet). Dylan’s first move is to visit his hero, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), who is dying in a local hospital. Dylan performs a song he has written for Woody and impresses folk legend Pete Seeger (Ed Norton).

    Seeger soon introduces Dylan on the popular New York folk music scene, and while trying to get his first album produced, meets artist Sylvie Russo (Susan Rotolo in real life) played by Elle Fanning, and young musician Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). Dylan soon begins having relationships with both women, while his musical career takes off.

    Confused by his new success and being labeled “the voice of his generation” by the media, Dylan seeks support from fellow musician Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook). Dylan continues to struggle with his success and pushes to create new music that doesn’t fit into the mold of what Seeger and others want for him. It all culminates with the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan is the headliner and famously causes a riot by using an electric guitar.

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Based on author Elijah Wald’s ‘Dylan Goes Electric’, the script by Mangold and Jay Cocks is excellent and the choice to focus on the first three years of Dylan’s career rather than a life-spanning biopic was a smart one. Mangold, of course, is no stranger to rock n’ roll biopics having made the Johnny Cash film ‘Walk the Line,’ but in my opinion this is a far superior movie and putting ‘Logan’ aside, may be the best work of Mangold’s impressive career.

    Focusing on this specific period allows the director to really examine how Robert Zimmerman became Bob Dylan, and his impact on music and society. 1960s New York comes alive in a vibrant way, and the images shown reflect what we’ve seen of Dylan in that time. Mangold is also able to spotlight the folk music movement of the early 60s, Dylan’s role in that, and how controversial it was in that community when Dylan “betrayed” them and went electric.

    Obviously, if you are Dylan fan you will love the music as it is mostly his, with a few traditional songs and music from Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash thrown in. All the big Dylan hits of that time are included such as ‘Masters of War’, ‘Blowing in the Wind’, ‘Maggie’s Farm’, and of course, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’. The musical performances are fantastic, and the actors, who sang themselves, remarkably sound like the people they are portraying, especially Chalamet and Barbaro.

    Criticism

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Full disclosure: I’m a self-proclaimed Bob Dylan expert. I’ve personally been studying his music as a fan for the last 30 years and have seen him live in concert easily over 20 times. So, I was ready to be quite critical of the movie, but to be honest, I fell so in love with the characters, the performances, the music and Mangold’s direction, that I really left the theater with very little to complain about.

    However, if I had to be critical, at 2 hours and 21 minutes, the movie is a little long. It didn’t bother me much, but I think you could have a much tighter film if you cut 10 minutes or so from the run time. The easiest way to do this would be to cut one or two of the musical numbers. Look, I love ‘Masters of War’, but do we need to see Dylan perform it twice in the same movie?

    Also, I understand having Norton perform one of Pete Seeger’s songs at the beginning of the movie to establish who that character is, but also watching him perform at the Newport Festival towards the finale seemed unnecessary. My guess would be that Mangold got a little too precious with the musical performances and didn’t want to “cut any of his babies”, and I totally get that, and in the long run doesn’t really hurt the movie much.

    Edward Norton in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Edward Norton in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    My other small critique would be that the film completely skips Dylan’s seminal 1965 tour of England, which is where he was first introduced to electric guitars. The movie makes mention of the trip before and after it happens, but never took the time to explore it and I have a theory as to why Mangold made that choice.

    D.A. Pennebaker’s groundbreaking 1967 documentary ‘Don’t Look Back’ chronicles in real time Dylan’s tour of England, and my guess would be that Mangold did not want to retread that territory. If that is the case, then that was a smart choice, as one of my issues with director Michael Mann’s boxing biopic ‘Ali’ was that the third act was a shot for shot remake of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘When We Were Kings’.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Edward Norton and Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Edward Norton and Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Mangold has really assembled a wonderful ensemble cast but obviously the movie hinges on Timothée Chalamet’s performance. The young actor who has been excellent in films like ‘Call Me by Your Name’, ‘Wonka’ and the ‘Dune’ series gives his best work to date as Dylan. I would imagine this was a daunting character for Chalamet to play and he completely nails it from beginning to end.

    The actor perfectly embodies Dylan, his awkward coolness, and his legendary mystic. His musical performances are astounding and the best compliment I can give him is to say that there were times I forgot I was watching an actor and thought I was really watching Dylan. It is easily one of the best male performances of this year and I would be shocked if he doesn’t at least get nominated for an Oscar, and depending on who else is in the competition, I would imagine he’ll be the frontrunner.

    (L to R) Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in 'A Complete Unknown'. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in ‘A Complete Unknown’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    Also deserving of an Oscar nomination is Monica Barbaro who is incredible as Joan Baez. Not only does the actress look like Baez, but she also sounds exactly like her when she is singing and has excellent chemistry with Chalamet. Their love story, for me, was the heart of the movie. Elle Fanning, who plays Dylan’s other love interest Sylvie, has a bit of a thankless role, as I did feel her character was given short shrift by the script. Regardless, the actress is a ray of sunshine in all her scenes and has wonderful chemistry with Chalamet too.

    Ed Norton could also end up earning an Oscar nomination for his work, as the actor gives a quiet yet strong performance as Dylan’s mentor and eventual rival, Pete Seeger. It’s also worth mentioning Boyd Holbrook’s fun performance as Johnny Cash, but with two short scenes, it is basically a glorified cameo. Finally, Scoot McNairy has the difficult job of playing an afflicted Woody Guthrie, and while his performance didn’t quite work for me, the actor made the most of the situation.

    Final Thoughts

    Timothée Chalamet in 'A Complete Unkown'. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
    Timothée Chalamet in ‘A Complete Unkown’. Photo by Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

    In the end, ‘A Complete Unknown’ is probably the best version of a Bob Dylan movie we could ever ask for. And it’s important to remember that Bob Dylan isn’t even a real person … he’s a mysterious character that a young Robert Zimmerman created in New York in the early 60s. Given that, director James Mangold has created a biopic that both honors the legend of Bob Dylan, while examining the real man behind the persona, without ruining the mystic that the artist has spent so many decades cultivating.

    I expect the film will receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and possibly a nomination for Best Director as well. In a year that saw disappointing biopics of both Bob Marley (‘Bob Marley: One Love‘) and Amy Winehouse (‘Back to Black‘), I can safely say that ‘A Complete Unknown’ is the best biopic about a popular musician we’ve seen in recent years and features a transcending and career-defining performance from Timothée Chalamet.

    ‘A Complete Unknown’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘A Complete Unknown’?

    Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, ‘A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

    Who is in the cast of ‘A Complete Unknown’?

    'A Complete Unknown' opens in theaters on December 25th.
    ‘A Complete Unknown’ opens in theaters on December 25th.

    List of Biopics Based on Musicians:

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Complete Unknown’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bob Dylan Music on Amazon

    whpfrEDd

     

  • Queen Latifah Plans Hip-Hop Biopics of Herself and More

    Queen Latifah arrives on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Queen Latifah arrives on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Preview:

    • Queen Latifah will produce a set of hip-hop biopics.
    • She’s aiming to start with her own story.
    • Will Smith is among the producers of the film.

    The musical biopic genre just keeps on expanding. There are a variety of projects in the works, including the recently-confirmed KISS pic ‘Shout It Out Loud’, which has McG now attached to direct.

    Artists don’t always have direct say over what goes into their films –– sometimes it’s because they’ve already passed away, other times it’s because they sold their rights. But then you have someone like Queen Latifah, who intends to keep control herself.

    Latifah has now confirmed via Deadline that she’ll produce a slate of hip-hop biopics about musical icons, and that she’s starting with herself.

    Related Article: McG Making a Deal to Direct Biopic ‘Shout It Out Loud’, About Glam Rockers KISS

    What will Queen Latifah’s story be?

    Queen Latifah at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Queen Latifah at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Latifah, born Dana Elise Owens in Newark, New Jersey, began her music career singing in Baptist churches and in school. She formed a rap group, Ladies Fresh, with her friends Tangy B and Landy D in response to the formation of another young women’s group.

    But her career really blossomed when her mother invited a local DJ to see Latifah –– the name comes from a nickname given to her at the age of 8, which translates to “delicate and sensitive” in Arabic –– and her friends perform, and he gave a demo record of hers to the host of ‘Yo! MTV Raps,’ Fred Braithwaite.

    She began to perform in bigger and bigger venues, launched several albums and began winning Grammys before diversifying into acting and producing. It’s quite the story to tell.

    Here’s what Latifah said about the new effort:

    “We all came into this industry together and Hip Hop has shaped each and every one of us. Hip Hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”

    Who else is working on this and other biopics?

    Will Smith at the 'Bel-Air' season 3 "Summer BBQ”. Photo: Paul Archuleta/Peacock.
    Will Smith at the ‘Bel-Air’ season 3 “Summer BBQ”. Photo: Paul Archuleta/Peacock.

    Latifah and Shakim Compere will produce on behalf of their Flavor Unit Entertainment. Will Smith and Miguel Melendez will serve as producers for Westbrook Studios. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will produce for Jesse Collins Entertainment, the company that produced the music biopics, ‘The New Edition Story’ and ‘The Bobby Brown Story.’

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    Here’s what Smith had to say:

    “When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special. I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

    When will the Queen Latifah biopic be on screens?

    With no writer or director announced yet, and no studio home confirmed, we’ll have to wait to see when this one makes it into theaters.

    Queen Latifah presents at The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Queen Latifah presents at The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Other Biopics about Musicians:

    Buy Queen Latifah Movies on Amazon

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  • Ridley Scott in Talks to Make Bee Gees Biopic

    (Left) Ridley Scott attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. (Left) The Bee Gees in 'The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.' Photo: HBO.
    (Left) Ridley Scott attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. (Left) The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

    Preview:

    • Ridley Scott’s in talks for a Bee Gees biopic.
    • Paramount has been developing the movie for a few years.
    • The script comes from ‘Gladiator’ scribe John Logan.

    As ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ –– the movie about the reggae music superstar –– performs well at the box office following its Valentine’s Day midweek release ($17.9 million and counting), Paramount is looking to give a long-gestating other film in the genre a boost.

    The studio has had a movie chronicling the extraordinary story of the Bee Gees in the works since at least 2019 but has seen it burn through a couple of directors already (that would be Kenneth Branagh and John Carney).

    Now, as his schedule starts to open up again, Ridley Scott is the studio’s target to get the Bee Gees project to screens.

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    Who are the Bee Gees?

    The Bee Gees in 'The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.'
    The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

    If you know the name, but don’t know the story of sibling musicians Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb, just say, lay it on me.

    The group enjoyed worldwide sales of more than 220 million records, cementing them as one of the biggest-selling groups of all time. While the brothers first began performing together in the late 1950s with folk and soft rock, their popularity mushroomed after they wrote songs for ‘Saturday Night Fever’ that boosted the popularity of disco and led to one of the top-selling albums ever, winning five Grammys including Album of the Year.

    Even though the soaring success made them world famous, rich and an indelible part of the ’70s zeitgeist, their position as the symbol of disco put them unexpectedly on their heels when there was an eventual backlash to the whole vibe. When Maurice Gibb died suddenly in January 2003 at the age of 53, the remaining brothers retired the group’s name after 45 years of work. They re-formed in 2009, but Robin died three years later at age 62 and that has left Barry to maintain the band’s legacy.

    Paramount has John Logan –– who incidentally wrote both ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Alien: Covenant’ for Scott, at work on the script, while biopic specialist Graham King (who worked on the Oscar-winning ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and is in production on Michael Jackson film ‘Michael‘) is also aboard.

    What is happening with Ridley Scott?

    Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of 'Napoleon,' premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.
    (L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

    Scott is in post-production on his ‘Gladiator’ sequel, which continues the story of his 2000 epic set a few years later, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Joseph Quinn.

    It’s just his latest project, and he has plenty of other potential movies in development, but the studio is hoping he’ll set the Bee Gees film as a priority. Scott actually has a connection to the group, as he was offered the chance to direct a movie called ‘Castle Accident’ starring the brothers way back in the 1970s, but it never came together.

    Related Article: Every Ridley Scott Movie, Ranked!

    When will the biopic be in theaters?

    The Bee Gees in 'The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.'
    The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

    The film is not yet at a point where it can schedule a release date –– even with modern studio policies of assigning a date before most of the creative elements are in place. But if Scott does agree to make it, we can expect him to have it moving quickly.

    Next up for the director is the aforementioned ‘Gladiator’ sequel, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 22nd.

    The Bee Gees in 'The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.'
    The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

    Other Musician Biopics:

    Buy Ridley Scott Movies on Amazon

    zdqfjHMk

  • Movie Review: ‘Bob Marley: One Love’

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Opening in theaters on February 14th is the new biopic from director Reinaldo Marcus Green (‘King Richard’) entitled ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ which chronicles the life of the late reggae singer and stars Kingsley Ben-Adir (‘Barbie’) in the title role.

    Related Article: New Images Online from Upcoming Amy Winehouse and Bob Marley Biopics

    Initial Thoughts

    Bob Marley’s life and legacy comes into vivid scope in director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s captivating ‘Bob Marley: One Love.’ Actor Kingsley Ben-Adir gives a transcending performance in the title role, and Lashana Lynch is strong and elegant as Marley’s wife, Rita. While the movie does fall into some common biopic traps, and becomes predictable at times, Marley’s compelling story, his vibrant music, and the lead performances elevate the overall film.

    Script and Direction

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” and Director Reinaldo Marcus Green in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” and Director Reinaldo Marcus Green in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Written by Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, Zach Baylin and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, the movie begins with a brief flashback to Bob Marley’s (Kingsley Ben-Adir) childhood and quickly flash’s forward to the mid-1970s. Jamaica is in political turmoil. Marley is now a superstar and scheduled to perform a concert to bring the country together but has been urged not to attend. After an assassination attempt on Marley that leaves his wife Rita (Lashana Lynch) injured, Bob leaves Jamaica for London where he begins recording the ‘Exodus’ album.

    The distance soon puts a strain on his marriage, while Marley navigates fame and betrayal within his own ranks. He eventually decides to tour Africa, but after he is diagnosed with cancer, and the political climate of Jamaica changes, he instead returns home from his self-imposed exile to unite his country one more time with a live-concert and his iconic music. The film also continues to flashback throughout revealing Marley’s tough childhood, putting together The Wailers, recording his first album, and meeting and falling in love with Rita.

    Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley” and Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley” and Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    The script wisely focuses on Marley’s final years, and the structure, starting with the subject as a star and flashing back to show how he got there, is very refreshing. It allows the movie to start in first gear rather than revving up to the main story in chronological order. The flashbacks also work well within the context of the movie. But that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t fall into some common musical biopic traps, but more on that in a minute.

    Director Reinaldo Marcus Green, coming off the Oscar-nominated ‘King Richard,’ sets a good pace and tone for the film, which is helped by the strong structure of the screenplay. Green wisely fills the movie with Marley’s music, fitting in all the hits, and even demonstrating how some of the songs were written. The concert scenes are excellently shot and bring Marley’s music vibrantly alive through Ben-Adir’s performance. While those scenes are highlights, equally compelling are the emotional scenes between Bob and Rita, which Green orchestrates well.

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley

    Kinglsey Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    Kinglsey Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    In the pantheon of actors portraying famous musicians, I’d put Val Kilmer’s performance as Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors’ at the top and Raim Malek’s disgraceful Oscar-winning performance as Freddy Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the bottom. On that spectrum, Kingsley Ben-Adir’s Bob Marley is on the high-end, close to Kilmer and right beside Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash in ‘Walk the Line.’

    Ben-Adir completely embodies Marley, becoming almost unrecognizable both in looks and voice. The actor successfully transforms himself into Marley in a very believable way. My big beef with Malek is he was lip-syncing and did not actually sing his own songs. My understanding is Ben-Adir sang live on set, but the final product is augmented with Marley’s actual voice. Be that the case, you can tell that Ben-Adir is giving it his all in the music scenes, moving and jumping with the same energy as the legendary singer himself.

    But the actor also excels at capturing his majesty, his intensity, and his spirituality, especially in the quitter scenes. Ben-Adir brings a lot of emotion to his off-stage scenes, particularly those with Lynch. The chemistry between the two actors is apparent and brings an intensity to Bob and Rita’s relationship. While the actor does have the luxury of bringing with him all the love and respect that we as audience already have for Marley, Ben-Adir doesn’t rest on that and uses it to create a portrait of the real man behind the legend.

    Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” and Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” and Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    Lashana Lynch is wonderful as Bob’s better half, Rita Marley and gives one of the best performances of her career. The actress is strong and graceful as Rita, who loves her husband but also knows he is meant for a greater purpose. Lynch lights up the screen every scene she is in and is fantastic opposite Ben-Adir. Since Rita was also a member of the Wailers, Lynch is required to sing in the film and is completely believable in the role.

    Biopic Traps and Other Criticisms

    Stefan Wade as “Seeco Patterson”, Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley”, Aston Barrett Jr. as “Family Man Barrett”, Tosin Cole as “Tyrone Downie”, Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley”, Hector ‘Roots’ Lewis as “Carly Barrett”, “Antonio 'Gillie' Gilbert”, Anna-Sharé Blake as “Judy Mowatt”, Sheldon Shepherd as “Neville Garrick” and Andrae Simpson as "Don Kinsey" in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Stefan Wade as “Seeco Patterson”, Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley”, Aston Barrett Jr. as “Family Man Barrett”, Tosin Cole as “Tyrone Downie”, Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley”, Hector ‘Roots’ Lewis as “Carly Barrett”, “Antonio ‘Gillie’ Gilbert”, Anna-Sharé Blake as “Judy Mowatt”, Sheldon Shepherd as “Neville Garrick” and Andrae Simpson as “Don Kinsey” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    As mentioned earlier, the film does fall into some common biopic traps and cliches. After the brief opening flashback, the movie then has about a minute and a half of title cards explaining how Marley became a star and what is happening in Jamaica when the movie begins. Since most audiences already know the basic story of Bob Marley, explaining how he became a star did not seem necessary, especially since it is eventually shown in flashbacks, and the political issues get explained through the course of the movie as well.

    The film also has the traditional montage scene, which seems like a trope that has been played out. In this case, it was used for a concert tour and the recording of ‘Exodus,’ and was just included to show the passing of time while giving exposition needed for the rest of the third act. There seems like a smarter way to do that, but that said, those scenes do work but only because of Marley’s music.

    My final criticism, while it was not as bad as director Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis,’ I did feel like Marley’s story was somewhat sanitized. While they examined his music, political influence, and illness well, they glanced over his infidelities, and the impact that had on Rita and his marriage. There are a few brief references, including that he fathered other children, but it is barely explored.

    Oscar 2025 Chances?

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    It’s obviously too early to make predictions on next year’s Oscars, but with two performances as good as Ben-Adir and Lynch’s, in a movie about someone as beloved as Bob Marley, you must wonder why the studio dumped this movie in February. It would make more sense if they took it to festivals this fall and opened it closer to next December for Oscar nominations.

    As good as Ben-Adir and Lynch are, respectively, I fear this movie will be forgotten by the fall. While the film itself and the direction are probably not strong enough for nominations, the screenplay could have had a chance, and certainly Ben-Adir and Lynch would have been in the running, but unfortunately, even though it’s a good movie, it probably won’t be on people’s minds by the end of the year.

    Final Thoughts

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley”, Anna-Sharé Blake as “Judy Mowatt”, Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley”, and Naomi Cowan as “Marcia Griffiths” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley”, Anna-Sharé Blake as “Judy Mowatt”, Lashana Lynch as “Rita Marley”, and Naomi Cowan as “Marcia Griffiths” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

    It might not be the best musician biopic of all time, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ is a very entertaining and well-made movie that is worthy of the icon it is based on. While not perfect, the screenplay structure is clever, and the concert scenes and Marley’s music makes up for the rest. But its Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch’s transcending performances that really makes the movie rock!

    ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’?

    Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) overcomes adversity to become the most famous reggae musician in the world.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’?

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in 'Bob Marley: One Love' from Paramount Pictures.
    Kingsley Ben-Adir as “Bob Marley” in ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ from Paramount Pictures.

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