‘Better Man’ review: All hail Robbie Williams, a chimp for all seasons

Cheers to Robbie Williams. The English singer-songwriter who made the leap from boy band to tabloid target to record-breaking solo artist has done it again. Better Man is a biopic that draws on hits from throughout his career — including “Angels,” “She’s the One” and “Rock DJ” — to recount the artist’s ups and downs. Ma Williams – in collaboration with writer/director Michael Gracey (The greatest showman) – has done something daring in the space of the musical biopic, which has too often proven painful clicheandd, panderingor even obtuse. He turned himself into a literal dancing monkey.

Better Man Develops a story of Williams’ tough youth in Stoke-on-Trent, his bad-boy years in British band Take That, his substance abuse problems, rock romance with fellow pop star, celebrity feuds and family dramas, all while filming. the singer as a CGI chimpanzee in the vein of the The planet of the apes restart At first, it might seem like a cheeky gimmick (or cheeky monkey) meant to cross the audience with the weirdness of the choice. But Gracey nurtures this concept, weaving a collaborative performance with actors and the legendary VFX studio Wētā FX to create a unique portrait of an artist at war with himself.

While the cadences of Williams’ story fall into a familiar pattern, allowing himself to be presented as a literal animal brings a fresh perspective and a fascinating mix of humor and vulnerability. This results in the best musical biopic since Elton John’s brilliance Rocketman (which Gracey specifically executive produced).

Who is the role of Robbie Williams Better Man?

This is a complicated question. Williams lends his voice to the narration, the words of which were written by Gracey, Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson from interviews with the sensational singer. However, in the flesh, English actor Jonno Davies (Hunters) shoulders the role, blending a physicality that’s part giant chimpanzee and part terrifying sex symbol. While everyone around him on set is in period costume, Davies wore a motion capture suit with a small camera propped above his face to track his expressions. From there, Wētā built chimp Robbie using Williams’ own eyes (and various hairstyles) as inspiration. And the final touch: a voice that blends the performances of Davies and Williams. All this blends perfectly into a powerful performance that is one of the most surprising but riveting of the year.

In the narration, Williams appears with a smirking tone and a lot of insults that have been lobbed against him. Davies picks up that rugged exterior with a macho stance, but complicates it with a goofball bravado in crass outbursts, juvenile gestures, and a dash of self-indulgence that’s lasciviously funny. But more than fun, Better Man it’s captivating because it embraces a warts-and-all approach that doesn’t shy away from Williams’ darker moments.

You’d think scenes about drug use, infidelity and self-harm would be undercut by this furry gimmick. But at the end of the first sequence – in which a young Robert (Jack Sherran) has a hard day at the playground – the chimp device makes sense. The animation that Wētā has created is so emotional, the performance behind it is so grounded, that it just works, not only in moments of drama, but also in truly epic musical numbers.

Better Man it is full of song and dance shows.

As in RocketmanGracey employs songs anachronistically. For example, Take That’s Rise to Fame is supported by “Rock DJ”, which is a hit from Williams’ solo career. This is not a glitch, but a feature, as both films focus on the feel of their story over cumbersome facts. This freedom to play Williams’ hits as they make sense in the story (about when they came in his life) allows for electrifying sequences of joy, agony and romance.

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In the case of “Rock DJ”, the young group celebrate their record deal by dancing together through various locations, from fancy shops and double-decker buses to the streets of Piccadilly Circus, picking up more and more revelers along the way. until the whole world. London seems to share in his party. While this is perhaps the most ambitious musical sequence, among the most moving is “She’s the One,” where chimpanzee Robbie performs a heartfelt duet while dancing a Golden Age dance number and drenching his partner (Raechelle Banno) with eloquence that is completely faint. – worthy Yes, even when the leading man is a chimpanzee.

However, not every song is a party. And it is in moments of anxiety that Better Man’The monkey gambit is the most impactful.

Robbie Williams’ self-sabotage is made literal.

Using the visual language of music videos (of which Gracey has directed many), Better Man it combines realistic settings with surreal scenarios. So a car accident in the rain results in a nightmare sequence where Robbie the chimpanzee is submerged under water, then rescued by fans who tear him for souvenirs and paparazzi whose blinding cameras make his struggle to the hardest surface. More traditional moments are in the mix, like a montage of Williams’ magazine covers and music videos to chart her rising fame. But what could have been a flurry of nostalgic concert scenes or clichés is given fresh blood by putting more chimp Robbies in the frame.

When he looks into the crowd roaring in appreciation, he is seen among them, frowning. At first, it’s one or two of their own faces staring back. But as the doubt of Robbie grows, his self-saboteur, who hisses that he is a failure, a fraud, unloveable, multiplies and becomes legion. The sharp cuts from the dancing chimpanzee with its performative grin to the snarling doppelgängers, all reminders of shame or failure, hit like a gasp. Even when the world seems to be at his feet, Robbie runs away from himself. And this is based on an internal war made external for a brilliantly vicious battle scene that gives The planet of the apes a run for their money.

This poignant use of CGI animation is also surrounded by a terrific supporting cast. Whether it’s Steve Pemberton, Williams’ conniving father, or Alison Steadman as his devoted nonna, the actor brings a thrilling authenticity that makes this family, broken as it is, feel painfully real. This is even more impressive considering they acted opposite an actor wearing all that mo-cap gear. Together, the cast and crew create a gloriously complex look into the life of a world-class entertainer whose arrogance and vulnerability are on balanced display. The result is a film that feels grand, shocking, deeply personal, and shockingly relatable. Is it Billy Elliot meets Rocketman meets The planet of the apes. And it is much more.

Packed with vibrant emotions, body-rocking musical numbers, bold performances, and searing tenderness, Better Man more than stones. It’s normal.

Better Man is now playing in limited version.

UPDATE: December 19, 2024, 5:00 pm EST “Better Man” was reviewed outside of its Canadian Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in this article, originally published on September 11, 2024. The article has been updated with the latest viewing details.