Musicals aren’t my favorite genre because most seem similar to me, even in Golden Era Hollywood. I admire off-the-wall ones, like Tommy, a wild Ken Russell rock opera from the 1970s (I was disappointed when Joker: Folie a Deux wasn’t like this). I was disappointed attending the Telluride Film Festival and scanning the hostile, negative reactions to Better Man on Letterboxd, but I am glad I gave that movie a chance.
When Better Man sings, it truly soars. The musical numbers are not just luminous but burst with imagination and energy, striking visuals, and catchy tunes. It’s an entertaining visual and auditory feast. The ape metaphor drives home the point that Robbie Williams lived a life where fans ogled at him, and pop stars and famous people were zoo animals. It is an ambitious, bonkers premise that I respect, and we need more filmmakers to take risks like this.
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Some more dramatic bits about Robbie Williams’ life don’t work for me, and that is where the musical has pacing issues, interrupting the narrative flow. “To be famous, you have to show off and be cheeky,” Robbie observed as a boy, which isn’t too far from the truth. The main focus is the storytelling elements about battling inner demons and his honest struggles with insecurities that come with making it big, and we see a lot of his life spent grappling with this.
The Greatest Showman director, Michael Gracey, is an expert in his craft of making musicals, and Better Man is no exception. The film features some truly dazzling musical numbers, showcasing Gracey’s talent, but it does struggle to maintain the same energy during the dramatic storytelling elements. Many moments stuck with me from the “Rock DJ” sequence that went viral, a lovely dance number on a boat, and a shot of Robbie falling through broken ice into a body of water. The final bombastic scene in Better Man felt rather self-indulgent, but his life story is told on his terms. Let him have fun.
There was a lot of talk from Americans unfamiliar with him, and maybe it is an indictment on modern moviegoers that they don’t have a sense of discovery but prefer simple comfort. I remember “Millenium” and the James Bond vibes of the music video. I was disappointed when it didn’t appear, but I digress. I recommend you experience it and form your own opinion about this unique musical biopic.
Better Man is now playing in theaters nationwide.
