'Better Man' - Robbie Williams Movie

By Frog

 


There is a lot of music biopics in recent times and a lot of them generally feel the same. That cannot be said for the Robbie Williams biopic 'Better Man' which does something entirely off the wall in that it portrays Robbie as a CGI monkey throughout its entire runtime.

The use of the CGI monkey to portray Robbie was actually quite a stroke of genius. It sets the movie apart from the countless other music biopics on the market and adds a layer of emotion that may not have been achievable had it simply been a regular actor portraying the role. It is much more devastating the see a monkey go through the tragic scenarios that plagued the life of Robbie Williams than if it were just a man. But beyond all that, the use of the monkey has a profound impact on the story that is being told. The monkey is how Robbie sees himself and it is a manifestation of his tortured psyche. Ultimately the CGI monkey is used as a means to convey what the film is truly about: mental health.

While it is a biopic that explores the life and times of Robbie Williams, the film is more a musical meditation on the challenges of living with mental health issues and the consequences that can occur when not properly addressed or treated. This all comes together in a stunning sequence at the famous Knebworth concert which breaks down into an all out war of various versions of monkey Robbies as he fights with himself and his anxiety and depression all set to 'Let Me Entertain You'. It is a glorious scene that excells in both its spectacle and profundity.

On top of all of that the movie really works well as a musical in ways that other music biopics rarely pull off so naturally. Besides the aforementioned 'Let Me Entertain You' scene, the other major stand out is the epic set piece for 'Rock DJ' at Regent Street. The scale of the scene and the choreography was a sight to behold and well worth the price of admission.



All in all this movie was one of the best musicals I have seen in quite some time and as far as biopics go it was truly one of the greats. While Robbie's tale may be a familiar one, the execution in how the story is told is what makes this one so very special. I can not recommend this film enough.

Thanks for reading.

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