OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS – Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
“The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey directs Better Man based on the script he co-wrote with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson. Robbie Williams was a member of the British boy band Take That and after leaving the group, he was on his own solo career that went on to have success in the UK.
Questions have been raised by some audience members as to why the subject of the biopic is in a “Planet of the Apes” costume. This is addressed by the artist in a voiceover. The film begins where Williams is shown as a youth in the rough, working-class neighborhood and not treated well by other children except for one. He has a father, Peter Williams (Steve Pemberton) who prefers music to his job and family, thus leaving him behind with his mother, Janet (Kate Mulvany) and grandmother, Betty Williams (Alison Steadman). There are some heartwarming and loving scenes between Robert (Robbie) and Grandmother Betty who always had positive feedback for him when others only offer negativity.
Robert auditions for a boy band at age 15, and when accepted as a member of Take That, he is given the stage name of Robbie, which he disliked even before performing with them. The filmmakers do not shy away from showing the audience how fast they rose in fame and the access they had to sex and drugs, developing a history along the way. Williams is shown as having struggles with how he saw himself and how people saw him. He “sees” how reminders of the past try to haunt and discourage him from enjoying success. The audience later views how he visualizes doing away with those demons.
The director deserves credit for the marvelous methods and speed of changes in the sets, taking the audience from various times in his life, through the highs and lows and in -between. This is so much more than just stage changes, as it includes a speeding car, a lake and plenty more life action.
If you are a fan of biopics, but tired of the usual storytelling of some of them, this may be the one biopic not to miss. There were multiple times I was amazed at how smoothly the scenes changed as the story was moving along. There is no time to get bored. In fact, there may have been a couple of times that I was unsure what the main character is doing, but the fast pace could have been the high he is on. It is quite a ride and if you think you captured it all in one sitting, maybe try watching it a second time. It might be then that you really feel like you are on the merry go round of Robbie Williams’ life.
The film runtime is 135 minutes and is rated R.
Better Man was released in select theaters on December 25, 2024 and will release nationwide on January 10, 2025.
Source: Paramount Pictures
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