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Better Man (film)

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Better Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Gracey
Written by
Produced by
  • Paul Currie
  • Michael Gracey
  • Coco Xiaolu Ma
  • Craig McMahon
  • Jules Daly
Starring
CinematographyErik A. Wilson
Edited by
Music by
  • Batu Sener (score)
  • Robbie Williams (songs)
Production
companies
  • Sina Studios
  • Facing East Entertainment
  • Rocket Science
  • Lost Bandits
  • Footloose Productions
  • Azure Centrum
  • Partizan Films
  • VicScreen
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 30 August 2024 (2024-08-30) (Telluride)
  • 25 December 2024 (2024-12-25) (United States)
  • 26 December 2024 (2024-12-26) (Australia, United Kingdom)
Running time
135 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Australia
  • China
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • United States[2]
LanguageEnglish

Better Man is a 2024 semi-biographical musical film about British pop singer Robbie Williams. It was co-written, produced and directed by Michael Gracey. Williams is portrayed as a chimpanzee with CGI, performed by Jonno Davies using motion capture. Steve Pemberton and Alison Steadman also star.

Better Man premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on 25 December 2024 by Paramount Pictures, and in Australia and the United Kingdom on 26 December by Roadshow Films and Entertainment Film Distributors

Premise

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Better Man tells the life story of pop singer Robbie Williams, but with Williams portrayed as a CGI-animated chimpanzee because, as he puts it, he always felt "less evolved than other people."

Cast

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Production

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Development

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The project was first announced in February 2021 as co-written and directed by Michael Gracey with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson also having co-writing credits, and Gracey also producing alongside Jules Daly for Big Red Films and Craig McMahon for McMahon International.[3] Later that year it was reported that funding also came via the Australian government’s Producer Offset and Film Victoria’s incentive programmes.[4] The film is set to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films with international sales handled by Rocket Science.[5]

Described as a satirical musical, the project is reported to cover three decades of Robbie Williams' stardom, from his first success in popular music combo Take That through the ups and down of his career. The project was reported to "reinterpret and recontextualise" some of his songs.[6]

Casting

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Williams played himself with Jonno Davies playing the younger version. Williams described the filming process as “super odd” because he would find himself “sat in make-up and the lady that’s playing your grandma is sitting next to you, and the people playing your mum and dad”.[7] Williams is portrayed by Jonno Davies as a CGI chimpanzee, using motion-capture technology.[8]

Other cast members include Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Anthony Hayes, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany, with Williams' Take That band mates set to be played by Jake Simmance (Barlow), Liam Head (Donald), Jesse Hyde (Owen) and Chase Vollenweider (Orange).[9] VFX was provided by Wētā FX.[10]

Filming

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Principal photography took place at the Docklands Studios Melbourne, in May and June 2022.[11][12] Filming of concert scenes from his ‘Live At The Albert’ show in 2001 were filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London during Williams' concert appearances there on 6 and 7 November 2022. Members of the public could snap up bargain price tickets to attend in evening dress for the gigs.[13] Filming also took place in London in March 2023.[14]

Music

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Songs by Robbie Williams reportedly to feature in the film include ‘She’s The One’, ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’.[15] Gracey said the songs will be “re-sung”, to suit “the emotion of the moment” in the film.[16] The original score was composed by Batu Sener.[17] On 22 November 2024, Williams released the single "Forbidden Road", taken from the film's soundtrack; it peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[18]

Release

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Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2024.[19][20] Additionally, the film opened the 55th International Film Festival of India on 20 November 2024.[21]

The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in Australia on 26 December 2024; a limited theatrical release in the United States will begin on 25 December, with a wider release set for 10 January 2025.[22][23][24]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 41 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10.[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[26]

Accolades

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The song “Forbidden Road” from the film was nominated for Best Original Song at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.[27] It was initially shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 97th Academy Awards but was disqualified a few days later after it was found it incorporated material from another song. [28]

Better Man received a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 2025 AACTA Awards.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Better Man (15)". 16 December 2024.
  2. ^ Debruge, Peter (2 September 2024). "Better Man Review: Robbie Williams Biopic Would Be a Snooze, but for the Wild Choice to Depict Him as a Chimp". Variety. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (21 February 2021). "Singer Robbie Williams Biopic Ready To Rock; 'The Greatest Showman's Michael Gracey Directing For Summer Shoot: Hot EFM Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ^ Dalton, Ben (3 December 2021). "Robbie Williams biopic 'Better Man' to shoot in Australia in 2022". Screen Daily. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. ^ Frater, Patrick (2 December 2021). "Robbie Williams Biopic 'Better Man' to Film in Australia". Variety. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  6. ^ Shrishty (25 August 2022). "'A Better Man': Docuseries About Former Take That Member Robbie Williams Lands at Netflix". Collider. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  7. ^ Cairns, Dan (10 September 2022). "Robbie Williams: 'Fame is only ever toxic. None of us are well-rounded'". The Times. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  8. ^ Lee, Benjamin (11 September 2024). "Better Man review – Robbie Williams monkey biopic is a bananas gamble that pays off". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "This is the actor set to play a young Robbie Williams in his upcoming biopic 'Better Man'". Thehits.co.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. ^ Bumbray, Chris (11 September 2024). "Better Man (TIFF) Review: Robbie Williams played by a CGI Chimp?". JoBlo. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  11. ^ Roberts, Kit (30 June 2022). "Robbie Williams film Better Man - latest cast and the plot details". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  12. ^ Domjen, Briana (1 May 2022). "First pictures: Robbie Williams biopic Better Man filming in Melbourne". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  13. ^ Rowland-Dixon, Taye (26 October 2022). "Robbie Williams at the Royal Albert Hall – Two Concerts for the Forthcoming Movie 'Better Man'". Verge Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  14. ^ Elliott, Louise (29 March 2023). "Filming for Robbie Williams biopic Better Man as Jonno Davies takes star role". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  15. ^ Reilly, Nick (23 February 2021). "Robbie Williams biopic from 'The Greatest Showman' director is in the works". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  16. ^ Krol, Charlotte (2 March 2021). "Robbie Williams will reportedly be portrayed by a CGI monkey in 'Better Man' biopic". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Batu Sener Scores Michael Gracey's Better Man".
  18. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart 29 November 2024 - 6 December 2024". Official Charts. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  19. ^ Jeremy Kay, "Toronto film festival adds Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Edward Burns, David Mackenzie titles". Screen Daily, 22 July 2024.
  20. ^ Hammond, Pete (29 August 2024). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes 'Saturday Night', 'The Piano Lesson', 'Conclave' & 'Nickel Boys' World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  21. ^ Naman Ramachandran (11 November 2024). "Robbie Williams Film 'Better Man' to Open India's IFFI Fest, Phillip Noyce Set for Lifetime Honor". Variety. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  22. ^ Stephan, Katcy (28 February 2024). "'Naked Gun' Remake Set for 2025 by Paramount; 'TMNT' and 'Paw Patrol' Sequels Dated for 2026". Variety. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  23. ^ Frater, Patrick (30 May 2024). "Joel Pearlman to Exit Australia's Village Roadshow After 30 Year Tenure – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (21 November 2024). "Paramount Tweaks Theatrical Rollout Of 'Better Man' & 'September 5' During Awards Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Better Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Better Man". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  27. ^ Barnard, Matthew (9 December 2024). "NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 82nd ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES®". Golden Globes. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  28. ^ Grein, Paul (20 December 2024). "Robbie Williams Song Dropped From 2025 Oscar Shortlist: Here's Why". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  29. ^ Jefferson, Dee (6 December 2024). "Robbie Williams biopic Better Man and Boy Swallows Universe lead 2025 Aacta award nominations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
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