In recent years, the cinematic landscape has been inundated with music biopics, ranging from Bohemian Rhapsody to Bob Marley: One Love, and from Rocketman to Back To Black. The demand for musicians' life stories on screen has surged, making the genre increasingly saturated. Just as it seemed the genre might be losing its momentum, along comes Robbie Williams biopic Better Man—following closely on the heels of the Pharrell Williams documentary Piece By Piece—to revolutionize the format with a strikingly unconventional approach. Directed by Michael Gracey of The Greatest Showman fame, this new film initially appears to be a standard rags-to-riches narrative of a troublemaker from Stoke-on-Trent who rose to form the biggest boyband of the 90s and became a global music icon. However, the trailer reveals that Robbie Williams is portrayed by a CGI ape with a Williams-voiced narration, signaling that this is far from a conventional biopic.
The trailer opens with Williams' voice-over: "I'm Robbie Williams. I'm one of the biggest pop stars in the world. This is my story, but I'm not going to tell it in an ordinary way, because I don't see myself how others see me." This sets the tone for a cinematic experience that promises to be unforgettable, featuring an apeified version of his iconic Knebworth 2003 gig, Steve Pemberton coaching a chimp Williams in performance art, and dazzling musical numbers both on and off stage. Despite the seemingly gimmicky premise, the trailer, set to Williams' anthemic 'Angels' and filled with poignant moments as the 'Rock DJ' singer navigates the highs and lows of fame, assures viewers that this film will offer an unflinching portrayal of its subject, akin to Rocketman rather than Bohemian Rhapsody.
The official synopsis states: "Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time [...] The film is uniquely told from Robbie’s perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring." With a compelling conceptual hook, one of the most charismatic figures in British music history, and the director behind The Greatest Showman, Better Man is poised to captivate audiences when it premieres in UK cinemas on 26 December.
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