Shadows on the Wall | Better Man

Better Man

dir Michael Gracey
scr Oliver Cole, Simon Gleeson, Michael Gracey
prd Paul Currie, Jules Daly, Michael Gracey, Coco Xiaolu Ma, Craig McMahon
with Jonno Davies, Robbie Williams, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany, Raechelle Banno, Damon Herriman, Anthony Hayes, Tom Budge, Chase Vollenweider, Jake Simmance, Jesse Hyde, Liam Head
release US/UK 25.Dec.24
24/UK 2h14

TORONTO FILM FEST

Is it streaming?

While the idea for this Robbie Williams biopic seems audacious and absurd, after watching the film it's difficult to imagine it any other way. Filmmaker Michael Gracey imagines the story as a grand musical through Williams' eyes, seeing himself as a performing chimp. Surprisingly, this adds startling emotionality to the usual tale of peak fame accompanied by self-destructive vices. And it becomes a remarkably powerful look at imposter syndrome.

Growing up in working-class Stoke-on-Trent, Robbie (performed by Davies with Williams' voice) is close to his mum (Mulvany) and nan (Steadman), and longs for affection from his music-obsessed dad (Pemberton), who tells him he's not good enough to be a star. A born clown, Robbie showboats as a member of Take That, and manager Nigel (Herriman) steers them to the top of the UK charts. But Robbie's tortured self-image, drug-fuelled lifestyle and show-off personality get him booted from the band. Writing songs with Guy (Budge), he re-emerges as a smash-hit singer, but his demons remain.

Robbie comes vividly to life as a monkey, because the visual effects work (by the team behind the recent Planet of the Apes films) is exceptional. While there's certainly irony in this, it's never played for laughs. The film takes an unusually serious approach to the story, even with such a cheeky chappy at the centre. This mix of moods is expertly balanced by Gracey, who also allows the story to burst out into enormous musical set pieces, from an epic Regent Street Rock DJ dance to a powerfully moving rendition of Angels.

Even engulfed in this digital costume, Davies and Williams use the expressive face, voice and full physicality to create a remarkably engaging character. They also let the audience experience the intensity of the journey, highlighting pressures both inside and out. This allows relationships with everyone around Robbie to become unusually complex, beautifully played by a strong supporting cast. Pemberton is a standout, unflinching as the conflicted father whose motivations and opinions are intriguingly blurred.

As the narrative darts through the years, Gracey indulges in several blinding montage sequences that are packed with so much detail that fans will want to freeze each frame. And by rendering the imagery as grainy and gritty, rather than slick and glamorous, Gracey forces us to consider the underlying themes rather than the sometimes outrageous imagery. It's a riveting, almost startlingly sympathetic film that says a lot about the music business and even more about how fame magnifies problems without solving them.

themes, language, sexuality, violence 25.Oct.24

R E A D E R R E V I E W S

Still waiting for your comments ... don't be shy.