The true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.
Director: Michael Gracey
Cast: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman
Release Date: December 25, 2024
Genre: Biography, Fantasy, Musical
Rated R for drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some violent content.
Runtime: 2h 15m
Review:
Better Man is a rare music biopic that shakes up the standard formula to deliver something much more emotionally authentic and impactful even though Robbie Williams' role is played by CGI simian. Your familiarity with Williams' life and career isn't much of an issue as Michael Gracey delivers an engaging and fanciful musical trek through his life's highs and lows. The choice to use a CGI monkey, a blunt metaphor to say the least, is initially jarring but it becomes surprisingly digestible as the film goes on. It’s a fully realized creation thanks to a confluence of technical wizardry, excellent motion capture/voice work from Jonno Davies and Williams to create a living, breathing character. They are capable of ringing out a full range of emotions throughout the film such as Williams’ persistent self-doubt and increasingly detached sense of self as his fame grows. The unfiltered honesty that is offered up is truly impressive, reflective of the passion behind the project. The film's large musical sequences as just as inventive and effective with each bringing a different emotion to the screen ranging from sheer jubilation to deep heartbreak. A raging internal battle is visualized during the peak of Williams popularity highlighted by his performance at Knebworth which brutal sense of devastation laid bare onscreen. It’s one of the bolder choices that shouldn't work as well as it does, serving as a testament to overall craftmanship on display. There are a few issues with the supporting characters which are far more one-dimensional and underwritten, leaving his parents and Nicole Appleton feeling underserved by the script. It’s one of the few missteps the film makes but that doesn't keep Better Man from being an impressive achievement in the genre.
A-
