Genre: Biography / Music
Duration: 135 minuten
Country:
Australia / China / France / United Kingdom / United States
Directed by: Michael Gracey
Stars: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies and Steve Pemberton
IMDb score:
7,6 (20.924)
Releasedate: 6 December 2024
Better Man plot
"Fame makes monkeys of us all."
The young British Robbie Williams witnesses how the musical dream of his insecure father never takes shape. Robbie himself has musical talent and he manages to be part of the boy band Take That with whom he reaps great success. He eventually exchanges the band for a solo career and he experiences ups and downs due to his complex relationship with fame and big money. Insecurity also rears its head in him and Williams also struggles with a drug addiction. Better Man is a portrait of a talented, but tormented musician.
Social Media
Actors and actresses
Robbie Williams (voice)
Robbie Williams
Peter
Betty
Janet
Nate
Nigel Martin-Smith
Nicole Appleton
Guy Chambers
Gary Barlow
Reviews & comments
mrklm
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- 9912 messages
- 9128 votes
Candid, extraordinarily honest portrait of self-proclaimed entertainer Robbie Williams who only appears in the form of a chimpanzee, a representation of his persistent insecurities about his appearance and the feeling that he is a 'dancing monkey'. It is also a clever way to have the role played by several actors: Carter J. Murphy and Asmara Feik play Robert/Robbie as a child, Jonno Davies and Williams himself play the adult Robert/Robbie. Major hits such as Feel, Come Undone and the inevitable Angels are played, always in the context of the story and not as a random intermezzo. A delight for fans, but also an excellent introduction for those who only got to know Williams after his first period with Take That.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 13886 messages
- 4202 votes
The film is especially far too long. After about half an hour we already reach the point where it is about the drinking and drug use and what pressure and fame do to Williams. And actually the next 100 minutes are a repetition of that. After more than an hour the boredom started to set in. In addition, the performances are sometimes a bit flat, especially that of Williams himself (the fact that he is an ape does not really help). It all did not do much for me. The direction shows the struggles, the actor does not make it felt. Steve Pemberton as dad Williams does a lot better with an empathetic character - every scene with him simply works.
Furthermore, the musical is okay. Quite busy and flashy and even a scene in apparently one shot (Come Undone) and those parts work well too. Also occasionally quite good ideas and beautiful images (that car that splashes into the water, or more like drives into a wall of water or something). But all that can't hide the fact that the film does want to say a lot and is also quite honest (Williams was an asshole now and then) but also feels superficial. 2.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
james_cameron
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- 6517 messages
- 9450 votes
Virtuoso directed, visually overwhelming (sort of) biopic about the life and career of singer Robbie Williams. It takes some getting used to, but the gimmick of having Williams played by a digital monkey works out surprisingly well. Even the musical-like intermezzos fall into place like puzzle pieces. The dark sides of success are certainly not avoided and Williams is thoroughly put through the wringer. The finale may be a bit too sentimental compared to the bitter and raw preceding events, but by then you as a viewer can use a ray of light. The music of the best man is further sublimely incorporated into the film, in mostly edited and/or new versions.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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