Better Man -Robbie williams

Ash.J.Williams

Just brought the kid to this tonight and it blew us away, two of us in tears leaving cinema

Banjaxed82

Well worth a watch. Had zero expectations, but really impressed all round. My 18 year old hadn't a clue who Robbie was, but thought it was great.

speedboatchase

Saw this yesterday. I laughed, I cried. A lot better than I was expecting.

SimpleDimple

Is it about Robbie Williams or just featuring Robbie?

I saw the Netflix show about him so am wondering if this adds anything or is it a retelling if his life story?

AyeGer

I can hardly look at him since hearing he stole the song Angels (allegedly in case his legal team read boards 😂)

Ash.J.Williams

I haven't seen the doc, nor are we fans, but it's a spectacular movie

Ash.J.Williams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123009079#Comment_123009079

No mention of it in the movie, but perhaps a little telling the writing itself was omitted

mikehammer..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123009079#Comment_123009079

They steal everything

speedboatchase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123009079#Comment_123009079

You can't steal something if the owner sold it to you (for £7,500!)

klondike99

Why is he played by a cgi ape?

FullBack Jam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034534#Comment_123034534

Because he viewed himself as a "performing monkey" and a "cheeky monkey".

And they wanted to do something a bit different than the average biopics to make it distinctive.

I thought it was a brill movie. Very entertaining.

El Duda

Better Man – 7/10

Turns out the CGI monkey approach wasn’t a gimmick after all. It actually helps to get you more emotionally involved and allows them to take things to some slightly darker and more surreal places.

It’s at its best when it brings other characters from the 90’s/00’s into the mix. The inclusion of the likes of Nicole Appleton, Noel & Liam, the various Take That members, Tom Jones, Parkinson etc… reminded me of 24-hour Party People. Although people familiar with The Iron Claw will know exactly what I mean when I say they properly ‘Ric Flair’d’ the casting of Liam. Which got me thinking, one day they will inevitably make an Oasis film and casting someone as Liam is going to be one of the toughest jobs ever. How on earth can you play him without descending into parody?

I digress. Better Man is a brutally honest and introspective music biopic that will surprise a lot of people. The ‘Rock DJ’ sequence on Regent Street is excellent, it never feels its length and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t catch me in the feels a couple of times.

Ash.J.Williams

The cgi was also integral to the darkness and depression I thought,

gmisk

Looks like it is a huge flop despite good reviews

hynesie08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123050199#Comment_123050199

Yes, Americans are idiots.

I can see this getting a lease of life on the streaming sights, it really is a wonderful little film.

El Gato De Negocios

Wasn't the US premiere cancelled due to the wild fires in LA? One would have to think thats had an effect on the box office take. He was never a name Stateside but a bit of buzz from a star studded screening would likely pique alot of non fans interest.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123053491#Comment_123053491

That as it may be...Robbie Williams is pretty unknown there though so not sure what they expected.

I think more of an issue was the cost to make it which was genuinely insane...

It also isn't exactly setting the box office alight in the UK, that fairly middling looking rom com We live in time for example has made more money in two weeks than this could manage in three.

speedboatchase

If you look recent trends for music biopics or musicals based on artists (Mamma Mia), there has to be around 40-50 years between the artist's heights and now. So Abba, Queen, Elton Johns (70s) do well but anything more recent (the Amy Winehosue movie) flops. I think nostalgia for Robbie Williams doesn't exist yet - give it maybe 20 years. Loved the movie but I can understand the box office. It would be like releasing a Justin Timberlake movie now.

Bogey Lowenstein

I really enjoyed it, I wouldn't be a massive fan of his either. I liked how he showed the negative side of his character, warts and all. Parents, don't let the cute child monkey in the trailer fool you, this is not one a film for the kids.

Ash.J.Williams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123065118#Comment_123065118

I just talked a Robbie fan into going, she was put off by the monkey, I told her I'm obviously not a fan and my daughter doesn't know him and we were blown away😀

dubstepper

I read about one cinema goer wondering was it a planet of the apes musical 😂

speedboatchase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123075855#Comment_123075855

Starring Troy McClure?