Unleash the Magic: A Mesmerizing Fantasy Spectacle that Defies Genre
The Monkey Man: Why "Better Man" is a Biopic Like No Other
Imagine a movie musical where the lead actor is a CGI chimpanzee, playing a pop star with a career spanning decades. That’s what director Michael Gracey has done in "Better Man," a fantastical biopic about Robbie Williams, the former boy-band heartthrob. For American audiences, this film may be a hard sell, but for fans of immersive fantasy worlds and explosive musical sequences, it’s a must-see.
The Unconventional Approach
At its core, "Better Man" is a biopic that plays fast and loose with facts. Williams, the lead actor, is replaced by a chimp, which allows Gracey to explore the themes of alienation and sense of separation. The film is more about capturing the emotional essence of Williams’ life than reconstructing its events. The approach is bold, visually stunning, and at times, unsettling.
The Central Conundrum
The idea of presenting Williams as a literal animal, a different creature from everyone around him, lets Gracey lean on the themes of Williams’ bottomless hunger for attention, his struggles with addiction, and his sense of disconnection from his family and friends. Framing the movie around the most self-deprecating, instinct-driven version of his self-image underlines the point in every shot, without the need for exposition.
A Spectacle Movie
All of this, plus the ambitiously wild musical sequences, leaves "Better Man" as a spectacle movie worthy of sharing multiplexes and audiences with "Wicked." It’s seemingly designed more for fans of immersive, Wētā-centric fantasy worlds like the Planet of the Apes or Lord of the Rings movies than it’s aimed at fans of pop music history or even of Williams himself. By the end, viewers may be curious to learn more about Williams as a performer and personality, or to dig deeper into his discography.
Why You Should Watch It
"Better Man" is an experimental and explosive film that takes emotion and translates it into a daring central gimmick. Even for those with no investment in Williams’ work or previous knowledge of his career, it’s worth the watch just to see how Gracey fills the screen with energy and verve, with mesmerizing staging designed to overwhelm the audience’s senses and ensure that they walk out singing.
The Bottom Line
"Better Man" is a biopic like no other, and its unconventional approach is both fascinating and frustrating. While it may not be for everyone, fans of immersive fantasy worlds and explosive musical sequences will find it a thrilling ride.
