Introduction
I’m sure many of you, like me, heard the idea of a Robbie Williams biopic and wanted more information. Then, once you came across the trailer and realized he was being portrayed as a CGI monkey, your excitement dampened. I’d definitely file myself into this category – but I am here to say that if this trailer puts you off the idea of going down to the cinema, do not be disheartened.
In a world where CGI technology and the internet dominate every angle of entertainment, ranging from the latest film releases to casino gaming, it’s refreshing that there’s still a market for taking a good old-fashioned trip to the cinema.
Of course, casino gaming has looked toward other innovative implementations in recent years, including onboarding cryptocurrency users and allowing them to play casino games using Bitcoin.
While IgnitionCasino.eu offers crypto casino games, and other sites are beginning to make a name for themselves in this small but growing area of cryptocurrency and casino gaming, the digital revolution hasn’t quite taken the same journey in film. Big cinema releases are still getting people out of their houses, and for me, getting out to watch Better Man was a journey I was glad I made.
Have The Critics Got It Right?
Perhaps the trailer lowered my expectations to such a standard that anything above a half-decent film would’ve surprised me, but I was genuinely shocked at how captivating the film was. Critical reviews seem to agree, although there have been a few polarizing critical interpretations of the film, too.
While it’s premature to state that it’s a new format for musical biopics, as they will always find an audience if they’re made well enough – this whole CGI approach was a huge gamble. Williams explained the reason behind it, which, in a nutshell, is because he’s always seen himself as a performing chimp.
In fact, from a box office perspective, the film appears to have been a commercial flop, particularly in the US, where Williams has always struggled to establish himself. Some of the greatest films of all time have flopped at the box office, most famously The Shawshank Redemption, and while I wouldn’t put Better Man in a bracket alongside that all-time classic, it goes to show that cinematic success doesn’t always equal quality or critical appraisal.
Currently, the film has a 7.7 rating on IMDB and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, so yes, I’d say the critics have got it right collectively. Obviously, this is within a scale, and there are critics at either end of it (usually the ones looking for the most attention) – who are either disparaging the film as one of the worst biopics of all time or those who are saying it’s one of the greats. It’s definitely neither of these things and 7.7 out of 10 sounds about right.
A Captivating Film
Better Man has been in the pipeline for a number of years. It’s burned through a huge budget, and on paper, it’s a risk. As I mentioned in my introduction, I thought the trailer looked dreadful, and I only went to see it because a friend recommended it.
Although I didn’t see past the fact that Williams was a monkey for the entire film, it isn’t referenced at any stage, and the choreography, cinematography, and revamped versions of some of Robbie’s greatest hits all act as components that offset the fact that he is, rather unnecessarily, a chimp, for the entire duration of the film.
It highlights Williams’s influences, including the crooner influence of Frank Sintra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., but it’s the rollercoaster of Williams’s personal issues and how they coincided with his career high of his live Knebworth performance in 2003 that really give the film a solid emotional punch.
Granted, some lines are a bit coarse and unnecessary, but the film’s culminating scene, which features Robbie’s rendition of My Way by Frank Sinatra, is a tremendous high point and a perfect ending to the film.
Final Thoughts
Better Man is a must-see film if you’re a fan of his music or even if you’re just a casual fan of his greatest hits. It depicts a side of Williams and his personal struggles. A lot of credit for the visual marvel of the film goes to the film’s director, Michael Gracey, who is best known for directing The Greatest Showman.
On paper, this film could’ve been a disaster, especially if the CGI-heavy idea hadn’t landed properly with audiences. While some critics are not as favorable in their reviews as I have been, the film has picked up far more positive critical responses than the handful of negative ones. Like Williams himself, and by extension, his music, some people love him, and some people do not, but Better Man is an audiovisual triumph I’d strongly recommend.
