Better Man
2024
***
Director: Michael Gracey
Cast: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Tom Budge, Frazer Hadfield, Jake Simmance
This unconventional and semi-autobiographical musical biopic tells the story of Robbie Williams, from his boyhood through his time with Take That to his highly successful solo career. Williams states that he feels like a performing monkey, so he is portrayed throughout the film as a chimpanzee, using motion capture and CGI. This gimmick is surprisingly easy to accept, though it feels rather pointless after the beginning. For such a fun concept, it's disappointing that 90% of the running time wallows in misery, as we watch Williams endure bouts of self-loathing, depression, and substance abuse. However, there are several terrific musical numbers and, like Rocketman, many of the songs are used to punctuate key moments in his life.
