I struggle with biopics, especially those where the subject of the story is involved in the film's production, because there is a disingenuousness to them. There is A version of the story, usually one that is trying to make a certain perspective come through. Also I struggle cause most people's lives, even famous people's lives, are just not that interesting. That's why Better Man is such a breath of fresh air. It throws all pretence of being a "true story" out the window and just lets it be about Williams making his case for his journey. And despite the fact that most of his life story is a pop star cliche, the film is just damn well entertaining.
Did we really need another movie about a pop star's rise to fame, being pulled into drug/alcohol addiction, and alienating themselves from their loved ones while wrestling with imposter syndrome. No we certainly didn't. There is little in Williams' story that isn't right out of every tabloid cliche you can imagine. Perhaps knowing this, Williams and director Gracey decided to do the absurd. This is about spectacle and its effects so lets tell the story in a spectacular way.
The ape thing seems silly at first but very quickly the film proves its thesis. It takes the story out of the real and into something that allows Williams to express himself through this story. I honestly forgot at times I was watching an ape version of him instead of a real actor, but there were times I was pulled back into that when there would be less human and more animalistic behaviours, reminding me that I was watching and interpretation, a performance. And that frankness (no pun intended) was appreciated. In a way it made it all feel more human. The film's willingness to be unreal helped make it feel more real. It hard to get until you actually see it.
Better Man is damn entertaining. Despite being rather predictable with most plot points being expected (even though I knew little about him or his life story before seeing this) the story grabs you and takes you along for the ride. The ape gives a pretty excellent performance. I don't know how Williams is as an actor but this monkey really knew how to make you believe in him.
Better Man
Starring: Robbie Williams
Director: Michael Gracey
Writers: Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey
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