Better Man

I think how you view this film might depend on whether you have a bit of empathy or familiarity towards Robbie Williams, or at least like his music. If you don't have that empathy, or familiarity with his tunes/background, then this is more a saga about what the music scene, some years ago (and maybe now?) can do to an individual.

On the other hand, you could also view this as one "oh dear, look at me and how hard I found fame, given my tough background" self indulgent mea culpa.

I have to say, though, I enjoyed it. I think I must be on the empathetic, like the music side of things.

The idea of having a CGI monkey is excellent, if Robbie, or a look alike (maybe it is one) had starred, it would have felt far more self indulgent. As it was, it was watchable, well written and directed.

The film was, however too long (by about 15-20 mins), the middle too repetitive, and the ending too schmalzy. Still, the music is good and, generally not overdone (I hate musicals).

Worth a watch.

Better Man (2024) is a movie I first heard about from Fantastic Fest back in September and I thought that this was the most ridiculous thing I've heard about all year long. Then I watched the movie and it kicked a lot of ass.

Positives for Better Man (2024): Now on paper, this is a movie that shouldn't have worked for me and somehow the filmmakers actually got me to care about the story of Robbie Williams as a CGI ape via Planet of the Apes. Yes, I know it sounds like I made that stuff up, but I swear that this is a real movie. There are moments where I cared about what was happening in the story. I also have to give props to the filmmakers for making this a fantasy musical because as wacky as the movie is, everything about it worked for me. And finally, this movie is a perfect example of how to take a ridiculous premise for any movie and actually get audiences to care about the story and the characters.

Overall, Better Man (2024) is one of the biggest surprise for in 2024 and I am so happy that I love this movie. This is one of the movies that I will be recommending to people the most.

Better Man is how biopics should be told if their subject is still around as it tells Robbie Williams story from his perspective in every aspect, from his own narration infused with boat loads of northern charm to the biggest swing it takes in the form of the CGI ape taking centre stage as a perfect metaphor for the way he sees himself. It's refreshingly honest and deeply personal with big Rocketman vibes and a high energy it sustains from the moment it arrives.

This is a story about the perils of being addicted to the spotlight and the emotion that comes attached to it is only enhanced by the performance capture and visual effects employed to bring this less evolved Robbie Williams to life. It's not like most other lead performances in biopics since Williams himself is present in the narration and songs, so it becomes a case of his work and Jonno Davies' seamless performance moving as one.

Michael Gracey's direction confirms that he's got a gift for directing musicals by making them as visually dynamic as possible. The musical numbers are so inventive and do some truly insane things that work beautifully because of how they help to tell the story and communicate everything Robbie is struggling with as it goes along. There's a lot of speedy transitions contained in them as well which really helps to maintain the energy.

I've never felt moved enough by a film before to feel the need to write a review - I haven't laughed and cried so much in the cinema for a very long time I've never been a massive Robbie Williams/Take that fan - so this is not a super fan review This film was a first hand gut wrenching look at how awful fame can be in all its inglorious brutal reality.

In a year of lacklustre disappointing cinema this was a shining light of entertainment - with some excellent story telling, singing and dance routines (and an all too real glimpse into the lives of Robbie and his family).

Watching the main themes of abandonment, alcoholism, addiction, helplessness & forgiveness play out in this story was exceptionally moving and a biopic to be remembered and revered.

An absolutely unhinged, emotional, and impactful cinematic achievement. The visual creativity shines through with the hardcore drug-induced sequences having a touch of a fantasy element while unapologetically exploring the mental health of Williams.

It offers something new and refreshing, giving audiences a different perspective on this whole biopic formula. It becomes very bleak and explicit, not afraid from showing the reality of fame, parental abandonment, depression, addiction and self-harm.

You're probably thinking it's just another biopic, why even bother, they all have the same cliches-but everything depicted actually happened to Williams, so you can't compare it to other films that make stuff up to enhance the story dramatically. He went through EVERYTHING. He even described the whole viewing experience as the equivalent of "going to therapy."

Although there are familiar tropes, it dives deeper into the thematic material more than you'd expect and has the balls to do what other biopics can't.

The biggest controversy surrounding the film was the CGI monkey, but its presence feels so seamlessly integrated that you hardly give it a second thought.

This is the first and last time we will ever get something like this so enjoy it while it lasts. Extremely experimental yet so captivating with many moments which hit you hard in many ways.

People online who don't know who Robbie Williams is are saying "oh, he did the Finding Nemo and Cars 2 credits songs and made a 5 second TikTok song, why does this random British musician who hasn't been popular since the 2000's need some biopic?". Every single comment section for a promotional video for this film includes a comment similar to that where I just get furious. America isn't the only country in the world. Honestly, most of us didn't know what Hamilton was until it went on Disney+.

Robbie Williams' lyrics have mentally pushed me through the last few months. He knows what people are going through and isn't afraid to acknowledge the silence in our lives. Specifically Come Undone, Feel, and Something Beautiful, are the ones that define me. These songs have been out forever, and I'm so glad that younger audiences, like myself, who go out to see this, can discover such material.

This ain't no normal biopic. Go see it and give it a chance. You will not regret it, trust me. Maybe you weren't expecting to see it, but surprises like going out to watch it can have such an impact, more than you know-just like it did on me. I wasn't keen on seeing this. Not at all. Little did I know, it changed me to become a better man.