Singer Robbie Williams rise, fall – and rise—is an honest depiction with excellent emotional mix
Better Man
What: Movie 131 minutes
When: Wed., Dec. 25
Where: Theatres Nationwide
Genre: Biopic\Docudrama
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)
Why you should watch: A tragic fall followed by a tear-jerking honourable redemption becomes a fun biopic where we see U.K. icon Robbie Williams how he sees himself.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS IS a fascinating superstar whose story deserves an adaptation to match. With over 75 million records sold worldwide, he is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, but his story is largely unknown on this side of the Atlantic. He rose to popularity in the ’90s as the youngest member of the U.K. boy band Take That, followed by a wildly successful solo career after leaving the group. At its core, this is an underdog story, and even in the scenes where Williams is larger than life, that feeling is not lost.
Director Michael Gracey takes a leap that lands gracefully. Known for his work on The Greatest Showman, the Australian filmmaker loves the surreal. The promo for Better Man includes Robbie being portrayed as a chimpanzee, thanks to CGI.
The chimpanzee works! Instant skepticism is impossible to ignore. The film’s first few scenes can only be described as dubiously entertaining. It’s as if Caesar from Planet of the Apes had the dream of being a famous musician instead of world domination.
The film focuses almost entirely on Williams’s time in the U.K., but his attempts to get stateside traction aren’t mentioned. Later on, the CGI chimpanzee pays enormous dividends. Music numbers with a little more colour feel like a better fit; a charming boy band with a monkey as its fifth member feels more fun.
Feeling underappreciated as a member of Take That, he struggles to find himself and a direction for his solo career. After Williams is respectfully asked to leave the group, he connects with songwriter/producer Guy Chambers to jumpstart his solo career. His excessive drug use is prevalent throughout the film, more of an overarching theme rather than a problem that needs to be addressed.
His challenging Liam Gallagher to a fight at the 2000 Brit Awards is part of a montage rather than an entire scene.
The heart of this film is its emotional dexterity, and the throughline of his trying to win his father’s approval is expertly woven into his personal success. Through the screaming fans and judgmental tabloids, his pain and anxiety are depicted so clearly that the success pulls at your heartstrings.
Biopics have taken on a new life over the past few years regarding the format. Pharell’s Piece by Piece is Lego-inspired; Bob Marley: One Love feels like a homegrown Jamaican film rather than a shiny blockbuster.
An honest depiction of the icon delivers an excellent mix of entertainment and emotions. This watch is worthwhile, even if you’ve never heard of Robbie Williams.