Better Man (2024)

[AngieBee1]

The fantastical biopic about British former boybander, turned successful solo artist Robbie Williams, masterfully directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman). 

Opting to depict the subject as an ape (because Williams has referred to himself as a performing monkey and, also, because Gracey feels humans have more sympathy for animals than their fellow humans and didn't want the fact that Williams was a celebrity to make people feel they can't connect to his story), "Better Man", on its face, is a film many don't want to take a chance on watching, but I think just writing it off because our protagonist is a CGI ape or because one is not familiar with Williams is a lost opportunity to see a spectacular film.  Not only are the musical set pieces stunning, but the general story is achingly raw and beautiful.  I would have never expected anything about Robbie Williams to be so amazing. 

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

This looks awesome and Robbie sounds great! 

[methodwriter85]

On 12/19/2024 at 12:38 AM, AngieBee1 said:

The fantastical biopic about British former boybander, turned successful solo artist Robbie Williams, masterfully directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman). 

Opting to depict the subject as an ape (because Williams has referred to himself as a performing monkey and, also, because Gracey feels humans have more sympathy for animals than their fellow humans and didn't want the fact that Williams was a celebrity to make people feel they can't connect to his story), "Better Man", on its face, is a film many don't want to take a chance on watching, but I think just writing it off because our protagonist is a CGI ape or because one is not familiar with Williams is a lost opportunity to see a spectacular film.  Not only are the musical set pieces stunning, but the general story is achingly raw and beautiful.  I would have never expected anything about Robbie Williams to be so amazing. 

Is Williams doing the body and the voice work or just the voice work?

[AngieBee1]

He is only doing the narration (which there quite a lot of). The actual dialogue and  motion capture is done by an actor called Jonno Davies.

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

 

[StatisticalOutlier]

12 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

I know of him only from appearances on The Graham Norton Show, and had never heard a song of his before

For the sake of accuracy:  I had heard a song of his before I saw the movie--when he was on  Graham Norton last week promoting the movie, he was also the musical guest.  But before that?  Nope.  I'd never even heard of the famous boy band he'd been in when he was young, never mind the individual members.

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

I haven't seen this one yet, but Rotten Tomatoes has 167 critics rating it at 89% positive and  an audience rating of  91% positive.  IMHO, after reading the reviews , many are praising this movie as best movie they've seen in many years,had no idea of the impact it would leave them with even if they had no idea who Robbie Williams is. They sure will after seeing this this movie.  

[iarwain]

On the other hand, it's bombing at the box office.

[StatisticalOutlier]

9 hours ago, iarwain said:

On the other hand, it's bombing at the box office.

I wonder how it's doing in England.  Most people in the U.S. don't know who he is and wouldn't be interested in the movie based on the subject matter.

Here's the trailer; I wish they had included young Robbie in the bathtub talking to his grandmother.  The movie is much more than just a bunch of fantastic musical numbers.

 

On 12/18/2024 at 10:38 PM, AngieBee1 said:

"Better Man", on its face, is a film many don't want to take a chance on watching,

That's funny because I'd seen the trailer in theaters and thought, "That looks weird.  I'm going."  And I know Robbie Williams only from The Graham Norton Show (although I saw his most recent appearance where he was promoting this movie and that made me decided, "I'm definitely going").

Having him portrayed as/by a monkey really works for some reason.  Brilliant decision and execution.

[iarwain]

55 minutes ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Having him portrayed as/by a monkey really works for some reason.  Brilliant decision and execution.

I've heard of Robbie Williams, but I don't know exactly who he is.  I know he has something to do with music.  

But I don't like chimps, they creep me out.  So this movie probably isn't for me, even if it seems like an original premise.  I keep remembering those news stories about chimps tearing people's faces off.  And I remember Michael Jackson had to get rid of his because it had become aggressive.

[proserpina65]

44 minutes ago, iarwain said:

I keep remembering those news stories about chimps tearing people's faces off.

I don't Robbie Williams would tear anyone's face off.  He's always been something of a loose cannon - which is why he's such a great chat show guest - but I think he'd be more likely to do something else to someone's face.

[iarwain]

8 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I don't Robbie Williams would tear anyone's face off. 

I hope you are correct.  What about chimp Robbie Williams though?  Can't be trusted.

[Morrigan2575]

I've been a huge fan since the 90s, he has a wonderful voice. I loved his original music, Millennium and Angels being the biggest songs in the US. My personal favorite is Jesus in a Campervan, which sadly has been dropped from albums due to copyright issues.

Additionally his version of Beyond the Sea (Finding Nemo Credits) is fantastic. 

I wish the movie was doing better in the box office, hopefully it will in Worldwide since Robbie Williams is very famous outside the US.

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

The movie deserves to be up for some awards IMHO. 

[AngieBee1]

On 1/17/2025 at 9:36 PM, One4Sorrow2TooBad said:

The movie deserves to be up for some awards IMHO. 

It is, with 22 nominations from both AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema & Television) (16) and AACTA International Awards (6). Very disappointed in the BAFTAs for only giving it 1 nomination. I doubt the AMPAS will do better.

Edited Sunday at 07:06 PM by AngieBee1

[Browncoat]

I decided to see this today -- it's popcorn day, so my popcorn was free!  Anyway, despite not knowing much about Robbie Williams, I really enjoyed it.  I liked the conceit that he felt like a performing chimp, although I wonder if it might have been more clear if he'd started out as a human child and became the chimp when he was tapped to join Take That.  But the chimp conceit really worked very very well when he imagined his inner demons in the audiences.  I almost wanted him to become human again at the end, when

he was singing "My Way" with his father

, but because he still has the inner demons, it still worked.

And it totally got me in the feels when

he took the TV to his nan's grave to watch with her while he had a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.

I didn't recognize any of the music (except "My Way"), but some of it was pretty good and quite catchy.

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 1/19/2025 at 1:43 PM, Browncoat said:

Anyway, despite not knowing much about Robbie Williams, I really enjoyed it.

I'm so glad you gave it a shot, and that you liked it.  I wish more people would take a chance.

Here's his performance of "Rock DJ" on The Graham Norton Show.  What an entertainer.  Which is what he said he wanted to be all along.  Notice the microphone flips--they had him doing one in the movie when he was a little kid. 

I loved what he said at the end of the movie (paraphrasing):  "I know it's only cabaret.  But it's world class cabaret.  And I'm the best at it."  Indeed he is, and I'm so pleased that his biopic was so original.  (BTW, he pronounces it "bye-OP-ic" like it rhymes with myopic.  I always say BYE-oh-pic.)

Catchy enough for you?  😀

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

Robbie had "it" even back in his Take That days.  Love this!

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

 

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

I was hoping this song would have been in the movie.