When it comes to Fantastic Fest Secret Screenings, one never knows what to expect. So, unsurprisingly, it came as a bit of a surprise that one of 2024’s secret screenings was the Robbie Williams musical biopic Better Man. Writer/director Michael Gracey tells the story of British pop singer Robbie Williams, the various psychological problems he faced as a successful pop singer, and how this journey led him to become “a better version” of himself.
What makes this movie so unique is that, because of Williams’ insecurities, he has always felt like a singing and performing “monkey.” For this reason, Williams and Gracey have chosen to portray the protagonist as a chimpanzee. While this concept might sound bizarre and unnecessary on paper, this element gives this film a creative edge and gives the filmmakers more significant challenges to make it work as a cohesive and coherent piece of cinema. Call me weird or crazy, but I was wholly invested and riveted by this story, regardless of this bold choice made by the filmmakers.
Working with screenwriters Simon Gleeson and Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey does a fantastic job of telling Robbie Williams’ very personal story in many rousing, entertaining, and compelling ways. Though the film embraces some of the usual tropes that come with artist biopics, the musical approach, the depiction of Williams as a chimpanzee, and the writing and direction all come together in awe-inspiring ways.
The mix of motion capture, CGI, and musical numbers works wonderfully. However, the film’s success owes much to the writing and development of the Williams character, making him a source of genuine sympathy despite the bad decisions he makes in life. I must also give kudos to Williams, who allowed the filmmakers to reveal much about who he is and his struggles throughout his life and career.
As far as the cast is concerned, I was certainly impressed by all of the main actors’ performances. Robbie’s family members, Steve Pemberton (father), Kate Mulvany (mother), and Alison Steadman (grandmother), play their roles superbly and genuinely show the impact these real people had on Robbie’s life. As the Robbie character, I was blown away by the acting of Jonno Davies, who portrays both the young version of Williams and also performs the motion capture. Williams narrates the story but also voices the adult version of his character.
This feature is one of those unusual films that will quickly escape the attention of most moviegoers; however, fans of Robbie Williams will absolutely adore this movie. As for those who are mostly unfamiliar with the artist (like myself), I genuinely believe this film could become a cult classic. If you want something different and bold, I highly recommend Better Man. It came as a wonderful surprise during Fantastic Fest.