Better Man (2024)
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A satirical musical follows the life of pop star Robbie Williams, portrayed as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee.
The story
In 1982, in Stoke-on-Trent, eight-year-old Robert Williams is shamed as a loser in the playground. At home, he eagerly emulates his father, Peter, a police constable and aspiring entertainer who idolises Frank Sinatra. Robert inherits his father's fear of being a "nobody", but Betty, his doting grandmother, encourages Robert to be true to himself. In a youth production of The Pirates of Penzance, Robert's showboating overcomes his stage fright and wins over the audience, but, shaken by impostor syndrome, he imagines an inner critic who vilifies and threatens himself. Following a talent show win by his father, Robert decides to pursue stardom, eventually joining the band Take That and adopting the stage name 'Robbie'.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows the life of Robbie Williams, portrayed as a chimpanzee, from his childhood in Stoke-on-Trent to his rise as a global superstar. After joining Take That, Robbie experiences massive success but struggles with an internal critic and the pressures of fame. He eventually leaves the band to pursue a solo career, navigating a tumultuous period of substance abuse, a failed engagement with Nicole Appleton, and the loss of his grandmother, Betty. His career peaks with a headline performance at the Knebworth Festival, where his inner critics manifest as a physical mob of his past selves. After a climactic confrontation where he 'massacres' these critics, he enters rehab and finds peace. The film concludes with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, where he reconciles with his father and honors his grandmother's memory.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 135
- Production countries
- Australia; China; France; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Gracey
- Writers
- Michael Gracey · writer; Simon Gleeson · writer; Oliver Cole · writer
- Cast and characters
- Robbie Williams · Robbie Williams; Jonno Davies · Robbie Williams (motion capture); Raechelle Banno · not specified; Steve Pemberton · not specified; Alison Steadman · not specified
- Genres
- biographical; jukebox musical; drama
- Themes
- identity; fame; addiction; family; self-loathing
- Tone and mood
- satirical; anarchic
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; biopic; fantasy; animal-actor
- Source material / true-story basis
- The life of Robbie Williams
- Content notes
- substance abuse
- Reception
- The film was a box-office failure but received generally favorable critical reviews.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 42; PostTrak · score: 83% · scale: 100%
- Awards and nominations
- AACTA Award · Best Film · Win; Academy Award · Best Visual Effects · Nomination; Critics' Choice Award · Best Visual Effects · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title was derived from a song by Robbie Williams.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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