Better Man Review
Robbie Williams, one of pop’s legends in living color, might be unfamiliar to some. While he’s not as well known in the United States, like Elton John or Queen, his influence in the United Kingdom is undeniable. He’s shattered musical records, had several singles and albums top the U.K. charts, and still leaves a lasting impact through artists like Ed Sheeran and Louis Tomlinson. Yet, like all music artists, Williams’ upbringing was a rough journey to reach the peak of popularity. However, Better Man’s unusual concept of transforming Williams into a CGI monkey really makes this biopic stand out in the best ways possible.
What’s also fun about Better Man is the actual narration provided by Williams himself. Instantly, from those first few moments, Williams extrudes this extremely energetic personality as he introduces his childhood. There’s this comedic charm in his presentation of events that really captures this odd interest. Sure, it’s mostly relegated to the first half of the film, yet there’s enough wit in the narration to keep it entertaining, much like Williams himself. Of course, there may be some that’ll compare this to the format of 2022’s Elvis, but this element benefits the film rather than detracting from it.
In Better Man’s first act, it’s paced out somewhat quickly similarly to Rocketman. Since most of the dramatic details happen later in the film, it does need to be kept things moving along. Still, it has this emotional tug as the younger version of Williams figures out who he needs to be. Here, Williams’ childhood and complicated relationship with his father sets the stage for the type of biopic it’s going to be.
Throughout this act, there’s a certain ominous undertone that settles in as the disapproval of Williams’ father starts to influence his emotions. It revels in a light subtlety as the support of his mother and grandmother support his cause. Even though it’s not necessarily the full picture, it retains this lightheartedness even if it feels brash overall.
Past the first act, director Michael Gracey really emphasizes those more visually euphoric elements of Better Man. This goes for all of the music scenes and montages in the second act, each of which get livelier than the previous. However, the best of these comes during the “Rock DJ” scene, which is an entire spectacle on its own. The cinematography around that scene is absolutely stunning with all these visual cues and diverse set pieces that connect beautifully. Plus, its intricate choreography is perfectly executed as it captures the ecstasy of Take That’s rise to a tee.
Yet, the scene that will definitely get everyone talking is the entire “Let Me Entertain You” scene. Everything leading up to that point leads to this explosive moment where all the hallucinatory “iterations” of Williams collide. It honestly feels like something out of the Planet of the Apes films with the choice of the CGI monkeys. However, Gracey composes this scene in a way where it’s more representative of Williams’ state rather than just a huge action piece. As a result, there’s much more impact with each blow made, wonderfully symbolic of the bipolarity Williams faced.
On a broader basis, Gracey handles the more emotional aspects of Better Man with much grace, even if it seems pushed at points. This especially feels more so in the second act as we learn about how he’s coping by pushing every relationship aside. Jonno Davies channels Robbie Williams on-screen with this eccentrically flawed personality that’s emphasized through the motion capture. He’s very convincing with each and every phase Williams goes through, especially when his relationship with Raechelle Banno’s Nicole Appleton is explored. While some areas have a need to show rather than tell more, which could be confusing to those unfamiliar, Davies and Banno’s chemistry is still strikingly compelling.
To be honest, the choice to represent Williams on-screen as a monkey is very in-line with the out-of-this-world artist. Better Man is trying to balance Williams’ emotional “humanity” with his more performative “animalistic” side. Though it doesn’t show the full picture of his career, the film, overall, does a good job of creating a familiar experience to audiences curious about Williams’ life.
As a whole, Michael Gracey does an amazing job examining Robbie Williams’ career through this extraordinary theatrical experience in Better Man. As someone who is very unfamiliar with the life and musical talent of Robbie Williams, this film really kept me hooked in every way. It certainly stands out as a musical biopic that’s guaranteed to be unforgettable!
Rating
★★★★½
Better Man will arrive in theaters nationwide January 10.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.