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Better Man
Better Man — Fame makes monkeys of us all.
2024 8 27.5K views saved
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Better Man

2024 8 27.5K views saved
Better Man

Follow Robbie Williams' 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.

Countries: AU
Languages: English
Runtime: 2hrs 15min
Status: Released
Release date: 2024-12-06
Release format: Streaming — Feb 10, 2025
Comments
moep0r
@moep0r 4 months ago

I'm not a huge RW fan but of course I listened to his songs on the radio when I grew up, and thus I somehow had a connection to them.n I'm still surprised how many songs I recognized from the first lines. Maybe I am a fan after all. Either that or that Robbie is in fact up there with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. I didn't expect the movie to be so well executed. The idea of portraing RW as a monkey worked WAY better that I am willing to admit and half way through the movie I kind of forgot it. I also liked that we get to see the dark sides of his career and some of the things that aren't very pretty, especially since RW is the executive producer.

1
moep0r
@moep0r 4 months ago

I'm not a huge RW fan but of course I listened to his songs on the radio when I grew up, and thus I somehow had a connection to them.n I'm still surprised how many songs I recognized from the first lines. Maybe I am a fan after all. Either that or that Robbie is in fact up there with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. I didn't expect the movie to be so well executed. The idea of portraing RW as a monkey worked WAY better that I am willing to admit and half way through the movie I kind of forgot it. I also liked that we get to see the dark sides of his career and some of the things that aren't very pretty, especially since RW is the executive producer.

1
Speed Demon
@speeddemon 4 months ago

Fantastic special effects and a great story. I can't believe he didn't spiral out of control to the point of death.

10/10

0
tinyredpanda
@tinyredpanda 6 months ago

I did not think going into this movie that it was going to be such a tearjerker - especially from an animated cgi monkey! This was so much better than I expected, a really well told story that pulls at your emotions

23
ThreeSpoons
@threespoons 5 months ago

Better Man isn’t just a biopic—it’s an emotional gut punch wrapped in a visually stunning, artistically unique package. Watching it felt like peeling back layers of a performer I’ve seen live four times, from the iconic Knebworth shows to his reunion tour with Take That and even Hyde Park Festival. But as mesmerizing as those performances were, this film makes you realize the personal battles Robbie was fighting behind the scenes. It’s both fascinating and heartbreaking to see what he was enduring to deliver those electric moments on stage, and it hit me harder than I expected.

The film doesn’t shy away from pivotal moments—his turbulent relationships, especially the wild stories with the Gallaghers, which were like myth and legend in my younger years. His complicated relationship with his father adds another layer of emotional depth, showing how those familial tensions influenced his journey. The film also captures his knack for self-destructive tendencies, often sabotaging himself right at the pinnacle or precipice of success, whether in his professional life or personal relationships. The Knebworth scenes are particularly harrowing and visually striking, showing Robbie battling his inner demons even while delivering legendary performances. They’re all here, but brought to life in a way that feels almost surreal.

The technology behind it, courtesy of Weta, is mind-blowing, but what’s even more incredible is how quickly you forget it’s there. You don’t see some CGI creation—you just see Robbie. His character, his struggles, his triumphs, all front and center, and it feels painfully real.

The depictions of mental illness hit very close to home. For anyone who’s dealt with the internal war that comes with depression, it’s deeply moving and, at times, almost exhausting to watch. The film doesn’t glamorize or dilute these struggles; it lays them bare in a way that’s both raw and honest, making it impossible not to feel the weight of Robbie’s journey.

I know a lot of people might skip this because they’re not into Robbie Williams or think they know his story. But honestly, they’d be missing out. This isn’t your standard biopic—it’s an artistic, emotional rollercoaster that dives deep into the heart of fame, addiction, and self-discovery. It’s unlike almost any film I’ve seen, and by the end, I was an emotional wreck (still hoping to stop crying soon!).

If you’re even remotely curious, Better Man is an absolute must-watch, especially if you enjoy other biopics such as Rocket Man or Bohemian Rhapsody.

4
Lars Sieval
@larziej 1 month ago

"Good evening everybody! My name is Robbie Williams. This is my band, and for the next two hours, YOUR ASS IS MINE!"

I've always been a big fan of Robbie Williams, I wish I somehow magically have been at the Knebworth show, but I am lucky enough to have seen him live 3 times over here in the Netherlands. Always a blast.

I like the choice of Robbie Williams being portrayed as a ape, really makes the movie standout. I really liked the way they used his music. I did not expect to see Damon Herriman aka Dewey Crowe to be in this. The Rock DJ part was really good and by the end I was invested and it was hard to see Nana go.

I think Better Man is worth watching either way because it is an unique biopic but if you are a fan of Mr. Robbie himself, what are you waiting for?

1
misteronemk
@misteronemk 2 months ago

I was not fully aware of the Story of Robbie Williams so maybe this made it a better movie for me

1
Gareth Nicholas
@garffy13 2 months ago

there are not many films I bother writing a review on, bit this is one!

the whole spectacle of the film grabbed me. the CHI monkey was fantastic and as other have said, after a while you just see Robbie. the way the songs are interwoven through the film (not generally a massive fan of most of his songs) was fantastic and made sense. There were were some stand out scenes, like the musical number in London.

I was in tears by the end of it when it finished with the Royal Albert Hall scene with him singing with his Dad, and although slightly different, it did bring thoughts of me wanting to know my parents are proud of me.

I didn't know the extent to Robbie's struggles and this was both entertaining, emotional and educational (although I do know that this is only semi autobiographical and so there is probably some poetic licence!)

I think I'd give this an 8.5 out of 10!

1
Andy A.
@astranora 4 months ago

I'll start off by saying I'm not a fan of his music but can definitely enjoy it when it pops on the radio.

The cinematography was absolutely stunning every chapter of the movie. Not only was a visual 10/10...it also incorporated the music on a near perfect level.

The pacing, acting, cinematography, casting, CG music were all just a perfect blend... A movie where the main character got replaced by a monkey had no business being as good as it was.

For what the movie was trying to do... In it's own category, it was a 10/10.

I'm undecided if I want to rate this a 9 or a 10 because usually I reserve 10s for movies that tell me a story I can emotionally invest myself in. This is a personal thing.

What I can tell you, reserve this movie for a good TV and sound system. It is 100% worth delaying the watch to have a better first time experience.

1
RyeZoo
@ryezoo 6 months ago

The singing monkey biopic made me shed some tears. Not something I was expecting. This is an awesome movie and a fresh spin on the biography film genre. I’ve never heard of Robbie Williams but I had a great time taking in the story. The cinematography, the editing, the musical numbers all were top notch. It’s a shame this movie bombed in the US, hopefully word of mouth helps this movie get more eyes on it. The best musical and musician biopic of 2024.

1
Marcelo Poli
@enzodotmatrix 1 month ago

Robbie Williams fighting his demons. [spoiler]Really fighting them in a battle.[/spoiler]

0
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