Being Black and watching a white man dance around as a CGI monkey in this day and age — I’ll be honest, I thought this was going to be an awkward watch. I knew I was going to hate it. You know that feeling when you’ve already decided on the hate before you even press play? That was me. Was I proved wrong or not? Let me tell you.
Who Is Robbie Williams Anyway? Meet Robert Williams — or Robbie Williams, as the world knows him — telling us all about his life journey in Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey (the man behind The Greatest Showman). Now, I have no idea who Robbie Williams is as a person. I don’t even consider myself a fan — I know maybe three to five of his songs, a little more of the Take That classics. I’m not someone who follows celebrity lives, so I had nothing to compare this to.
So there I was, watching two hours of a grown man making bad decision after bad decision, burning bridges, destroying relationships. Everything was stacked against this movie for me. But I somehow stayed.
Confronting the Monkey MetaphorFor anyone who saw the trailer, blinked at the monkey, and lost all hope: let me testify right now. You will love this movie. I don’t even consider myself a fan of his music. I know maybe three to five of his songs, and a few tracks from his days with Take That. I’m just not someone who follows celebrity culture or pop star drama. Going into a two-hour film about a grown man making bad decision after bad decision, burning bridges, and destroying relationships sounded like an uphill battle. Everything was stacked against me liking this film. Yet, I sat through the entire two hours without a single problem.
Even when certain elements didn’t perfectly click, the sharp script, captivating cinematography, and wonderful musical numbers kept me glued to the screen.
A Masterclass in Visualizing Mental Health What blew me away was the film’s portrayal of mental health. It gives you a sobering glimpse into a world of fame, money, and ambition, all told by a guy who unknowingly battles deep self-esteem issues. He is a boy who wants to conquer the moon, but has absolutely no idea why he wants it. Director Michael Gracey and the cinematography team deserve massive kudos for how they visualized his internal psychological warfare.There is a haunting recurring theme where Robbie sees another version of himself in the audience. He keeps ignoring his own psyche, pushing higher and higher, hoping the pain will disappear. The scene where an literal battle breaks out among the different “Robbies” is a stunning, tragic piece of filmmaking. We watch our favorite artists sing on stage all the time, but we rarely understand the demons they are fighting in the dark.
No Sugarcoating, Just Real Accountability. The most refreshing part of this biography is the sheer accountability. That is incredibly rare in celebrity biopics. Robbie Williams actually owns up to his decisions and his actions. Yes, the underlying tone of “I was on drugs because of my daddy issues” is definitely present. But he never uses it as a cop-out. He doesn’t sugarcoat why Take That had to let him go—you see the situation clearly and realize the band actually had every right to drop him. From his girlfriend and best friend to his mum and grandmother, the film forces you to recognize that he alone was responsible for the wreckage. Drugs don’t make you a horrible person who says cruel things to the people who love you. He chose those actions, and he owns them.
Becoming a Better Man. I guess that is exactly why the movie is called Better Man, and I completely see why he loved that iconic Frank Sinatra song. We become better versions of ourselves as we grow up. We learn our hardest lessons from the battles we’ve fought, lost, and eventually won. Even if you aren’t a pop music fan, this is a powerful story about survival, ego, and the painful road to self-awareness. Drugs don’t make you a horrible person who says hurtful things to your girlfriend or best friend. That’s all you.
Have you watched Better Man yet? Drop a comment below and let me know what you thought of the monkey — I mean, Robbie!
