Like the new set up ❤️

He seems to post from Switzerland so I assume he and Ayda will not be at the Oscars :-(

Better Man’ is better than you’d expect

By Andy Ottone

Feb 26, 2025 12:00 am

My friends are tired of me talking about the new musical biopic “Better Man.” They no longer want to discuss the film’s portrayal of the life of British pop-star Robbie Williams, or the reasons he decided the film should portray him as a photorealistic animated monkey. But they should care about this movie; I feel everyone should.

I’ll be completely honest: I had never heard of Robbie Williams before the first time I saw the movie’s trailer, but I was familiar with his music. I’m sure you are, too, if you’ve ever watched the “Bridget Jones” films, “Cars 2” or “X-Men: First Class” Williams and his former band Take That, with which he still collaborates on occasion, were pretty big in Britain and greater Europe. If you are a fan of “Derry Girls,” recall the episode where the gang tries to find their way to a British pop concert; they were going to see Robbie Williams. Well, his whole band was playing, but he was always the main character.

hat’s the narrative “Better Man” is trying to sell you, and one that the screenplay simultaneously upholds and tries to dispel. At the very least, Williams does not view himself as someone aspirational; that’s why he and director Michael Gracey (“The Greatest Showman”) decided to depict the musician as an animal. Williams, as revealed by Gracey, often felt like a caged animal performing for crowds, claiming the pop star called it “playing monkey,” driving the duo to pursue the creative medium to tell his life story.

I’ll be frank; I would never have watched the movie if the film didn’t make Williams a monkey. But now, I find that the monkey thing is at best unnecessary, and at worst an active hindrance on the film’s quality. The film is so much more than a monkey singing and dancing. 

The film is what every good biopic should be: honest, critical and a showcase for the best of his work. In conversation, I once called the film “Rocketman, but everything is turned up 500%,” and I stand by that assessment. But the issue lies in the ape of it all. Robbie Williams’ choice to portray himself as a monkey works thematically, at moments, but throughout the whole film it becomes actively distracting. If the point is to show the lifestyle Williams led was unglamorous, Gracey’s direction and the supporting performances of Raechelle Banno as Nicole Appleton and Frazer Hadfield as childhood best-friend Nate (no last name) demonstrate this enough. I sincerely feel there is nothing in the film that I would think “Oh, this would be cool if a human was doing it.” A human doing heroin in a dingy bathroom just to feel good enough to perform is tragic; a monkey doing the same is insanely disturbing, and sadly kind of hilarious. 

That is ultimately the crux of my issue with the film. The monkey thing is an interesting angle, and it’s what gave me the push to care enough about the film to watch it. Now that I got past that point, I think the movie — already great on its own — would have been even better if they played it earnestly. The editing, writing, direction and energy Williams brings to the project is already so full of personality and unique style that the film could have stood out on its own. Adding a CGI monkey felt like a step too far. 

I highly recommend this film. It is a great examination of a real world case of fame’s corruptive power and a victorious comeback from that brink of darkness. I just suggest it with the forewarning that you really have to look past the monkey mask Williams is wearing.

‘Better Man’ is better than you’d expect - The Observer

Instagram

Better Man on Instagram: "Robbie always knew how to make...

1,281 likes, 181 comments - bettermanmovie on February 27, 2025: "Robbie always knew how to make a statement. Which look gets your vote?".

Number 4 for me :)

https://www.instagram.com/stories/bettermanmovie/3577529226528215212?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=a2V3dTk0cTc2cWRp

https://www.instagram.com/stories/bettermanmovie/3577529226528215212

I am doing some testing on here for posting Instagram & Twitter so forgive the messy posts for a bit until I figure the new system,, You can delete later if necessary Alex. 😏

10 Insane Endings From Recent Movies

The wildest endings from the latest movies.

by Jack Pooley

February 28th, 2025

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Endings are perhaps the single most important part of any movie, because it leaves the audience with their departing impression of a given story.

Knock it out of the park and it can be the cherry on top, even elevating all that came before, but screw it up and it can derail all the hard work leading up to that point.

And then there are those endings so off-kilter, so utterly bewildering and unexpected, that audiences might be left unsure of precisely what to think about them.

That's totally the case with these 10 recent movie endings, each of which challenged viewers with their left-field twists and ambitious deviations from formula.

From surprise fight scenes in musical biopics to jaw-dropping reveals, and even an unintentionally hilarious final shot, these movies all went absolutely hog wild in the final stretch, for better or worse.

Some of these endings absolutely hit the mark, while others were highly questionable, and then there were those that split audiences firmly down the middle, ensuring that they'll be debated forever more.

Above all else, these bonkers endings certainly won't be easily forgotten...

10 Insane Endings From Recent Movies

Edited February 28Feb 28 by Sydney11
..photo update

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGdv6FMyubd/

Please delete

Edited February 28Feb 28 by Sydney11
.

7 hours ago, Sydney11 said:

I am doing some testing on here for posting Instagram & Twitter so forgive the messy posts for a bit until I figure the new system,, You can delete later if necessary Alex. 😏

You got this!

Yes, guys, I also can't share Instagram posts in a right way...

Still something don't correct...

Will try to figure out via weekend.

Anyway, the starting screens in South America looks pretty well and the movie is getting very good responces again.

Very good to know!

On 27/02/2025 at 10:50, elisabeth1974 said:

He seems to post from Switzerland so I assume he and Ayda will not be at the Oscars :-(

Oh... unexpectedly but that's all about Robbie and his activity in USA. Never really wanted be succesful there.

Nothing new for me 😛

Another new interview in a bed :)

The Life of The Performing Monkey: Robbie Williams’ ‘Better Man’ Review

Mario Martinez Ignacio

Feb 24, 2025

By adding its uniquely fun monkey-shaped twist to the Biopic genre, Robbie Williams’ ‘Better Man’ is changing the way Biopics are perceived and experienced.

From being a member of the famed Mancunian Pop group Take That to being one of the biggest international pop superstars of the 21st century. Robbie Williams has formed a legacy where both success and strugglers have had profound protagonism. It was just a matter of time before his story reached the international big screen.

Following the steps of the greats such as Freddie Mercury with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and Elton John with ‘Rocketman’, Robbie throws his life into the world of Biopics with a unique take on the genre. Playing with the fact that the genre incorporates fiction with history, director Michael Gracey chose to portray the singer as a monkey making the film stand out.

‘Better Man’ introduces the famed star to a new generation. Starring Jonno Davies as Robbie Williams in his chimpanzee form, Steve Pemberton as Robbie’s father Peter Williams, and Kate Mulvany as his wife Janet Williams. The film also features Robbie Williams himself as the narrator and provides his voice for the piece’s musical numbers.

Things to do: 

Life as A Performing Monkey

From his severe addictions to multiple drugs to dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies, Robbie Williams’s chaotic life has been filled with struggles and personal demons. While ‘Better Man’, like most biopics, takes some creative liberties when portraying Robbie’s real life, it does a pretty good job of transposing his mental health and compulsive struggles to the big screen.

Robbie has openly discussed his life struggles multiple times during his career including in his 2023 Netflix docuseries, but ‘Better Man’ dives deeper into the reasons of these became so all-consuming. I believe that the centering in those life moments that were significant in the singer-songwriter’s life felt more impactful, allowing it to create a more rounded narrative without cluttering it. 

The film holds multiple powerful messages, from never giving up on one’s dreams to the deeply rooted desire for love and belonging. These remind viewers about the destructive power of fame and the extent to which one can be their own worst critic. It shows us how far down self-hate can bring us, dragging even the brightest souls into darkness and making the climb back to self-acceptance feel almost impossible.

Into The Eyes of The Chimp

The choice by director Michael Gracey to portray Robbie Williams as a CGI Monkey Chimpanzee was a risky but great one, as Robbie himself wanted the audience to see him similar to how he sees himself. This makes ‘Better Man’ one of the few films in the Biopic genre that isn’t protagonized by a human.

Famously, the life of Robbie Williams has been quite crazy to the point of earning a reputation for re-embracing the unconventional, so it makes complete sense for him to choose a monkey as the star of his film. Surprisingly, this CGI Chimpanzee allows Robbie’s character and story to hit more profoundly, making the brighter moments feel magical and the low ones feel heartbreakingly painful while somehow still making it feel more Human-like.

One captivating thing that maintains the audience’s attention, even when it’s not the focal point of the scenes, is the monkey’s costume designs which are heavily based on Robbie William’s actual iconic wardrobes throughout his career. Despite the chimp’s design remaining somewhat constant, his wardrobe drastically changed as Robbie kept evolving. These show what else would be just a random monkey a more solid character evolution.

This decision allowed the piece to have a subtle, yet perfectly balanced comedy flair that is seeing a monkey snort cocaine. This is perfectly fitting with Robbie William’s personality and humor, astonishingly capturing his unique charm and unpredictable spirit and giving more authenticity to the piece.

Related article: Why Queen Elizabeth II Is One Of The Greatest Monarchs | Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of United Queendom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (Video Insight)

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Related article: Everything We Know About the Michael Jackson Biopic

The Art of The BioFilm

As clearly seen with the Academy Award-nominated film ‘A Complete Unknown’, the Biopic Genre holds its fair share of artistic masterpieces. Whether it is the gorgeous portrayal of the vast landscapes of India as seen in 1982’s ‘Gandhi’ or the astonishing portrayal of the Live Aid crowd in 2018’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, biopics have shown countless amounts of artistry, and ‘Better Man’ isn’t an exception.

The film greatly plays with imagery and allegory, using masterfully beautiful sequences to physicalize Robbie’s thoughts and state of mind. This allows for a better understanding of the Protagonist’s perspective, maintaining the story grounded in realism. The songs were perfectly chosen, using it to express how Robbie feels at a specific moment rather than being pure performances or background music like seen in other films of the kind. The editing felt on point sneaking flash-forwards and flashbacks into the present-day scenes, this contrasts with the crazy-filled path that is Robbie Williams’s career.

Yet, each scene is shot beautifully. Whether it is the beautifully detailed choreography featured during the musical moments or one of the deeply emotional scenes, ‘Better Man’s use of lighting and camera angles manages to portray a profound sense of vulnerability and intimacy this allows it to capture moments from more creative perspectives that let the story to feel more personal, more human.

The Life of The Performing Monkey: Robbie Williams’ ‘Better Man’ Review - Hollywood Insider

14 hours ago, Better Man said:

Yes, guys, I also can't share Instagram posts in a right way...

Still something don't correct...

Will try to figure out via weekend.

Anyway, the starting screens in South America looks pretty well and the movie is getting very good responces again.

Very good to know!

Philip has posted that it's not up & running yet, will most likely be next week ..

There are quite many posts on twitter from Spanish and Portugese speaking people. I wonder how BM is doing/ will do in South America. It would have been great if he would have been there in person one time.

Yes, he should go there... It's not far from LA but while he is in Europe it will not happened.

So the huge plans are cancelled to your opinion, Alex?

Many of us have thought he would invest in USA and maybe he would if the movie would have been successful.

For South America I am wondering that he still seems to be famous there after he has not toured there since 2006? They seem to be even more faithful than Germany.

It might be a financial strategy, but if I see that TT really went to places they had not been a long time, I wonder why Rob is not doing this.

What about the album? If it will be out only end of the year then the tour will have the old songs again? Then I read this morning that there are some requests of football clubs to boycott the club WM in the USA which would mean that once again he is in bad luck (despite I don't think the boycott will happen)

What about Dubai, hopeium? In the moment I have the feeling he had given up again on the huge attempts and is back to the standard Rob whichis for me sometimes not serious enough (I mean the music and career topics not his struggles).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/iresimpsonsfans/

Came across this ☺️