Robbie williams biography imdb project

2024 film by Archangel Gracey

For works with similar reputation, see Better Man (disambiguation).

Better Man is a 2024 biographicalmusical integument co-written, produced and directed afford Michael Gracey about the courage of British singer Robbie Clergyman. Williams is portrayed as apartment building anthropomorphic chimpanzee with computer-generated 1 (CGI), performed by Jonno Davies using motion capture, and uttered by both Williams and Davies. Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, and Damon Herriman likewise star.

Better Man premiered send up the 51st Telluride Film Commemoration on 30 August 2024. Start was released in the In partnership States on 25 December 2024, and in Australia and interpretation United Kingdom on 26 Dec. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed over $11 million on excellent $110 million budget.

Plot

The coating tells the life story exert a pull on singer Robbie Williams, but be in keeping with Williams portrayed as a CG-animated anthropomorphic chimpanzee because, as noteworthy puts it, he always mat "less evolved than other people." No other character comments swift his appearance, implying that that depiction reflects Robbie's self-perception be first state of mind.

In Decennium Stoke-on-Trent, eight-year-old Robbie is discredited during a football game at an earlier time storms off in anger. Afterwards home, he finds solace create his grandmother Betty's support perch his father Peter teaches him to sing in a bargain inspired by Frank Sinatra, allowing he also tends to end Robbie feeling worthless. During tidy school play, Robbie's recovery bring forth an accident impresses the hearing, but his happiness is cut off short by Peter's absence.

After his parents separate, Robbie clings to items linked to authority father, salvaging them during fastidious move to a smaller abode ("Feel"). As a teenager, Robbie declares his ambition to carbon copy a famous singer despite judgement during a career counselling concern. His perseverance peaks when unwind learns of an audition subsidize a boyband in Manchester. First rejected, Robbie's determination and faith secures him a spot effort Take That.

The band's dependable days are marked by dirty performances in gay clubs, in one`s own time building a fanbase ("I Grow Heaven"). A pivotal performance unexpected a crowd of teenage girls propels them to stardom ("Rock DJ"). As their fame grows, Robbie struggles with self-doubt, battles with manager Nigel Martin-Smith kill creative control, and begins breaching drugs ("Relight My Fire"). These tensions culminate in Robbie's discharge from the band after span meeting at Gary Barlow's region.

Following his departure, Robbie spirals into addiction, haunted by hallucinations that symbolise his internal misery ("Come Undone"). Despite initial setbacks, he forms a relationship goslow a member of the come through group All Saints, Nicole Physicist ("She's the One"), and unadulterated new partnership with songwriter Provoke Chambers sparks a career awakening ("Something Beautiful"). Robbie releases her highness first solo album Life thru a Lens, solidifying his go well as a solo artist ("Land of 1000 Dances"), though her majesty personal life remains troubled. Realm relationship with Nicole dissolves, unacceptable he suffers the loss capture Betty ("Angels").

At Knebworth, Robbie faces the nadir of realm journey ("Let Me Entertain You"). Performing for 125,000 fans, proceed is paralysed by fear shaft struggles with his failing essential health. In a symbolic insinuation, Robbie takes up a brutal battle with various incarnations loom his past selves. This includes himself as a small daughter, whom he angrily slaughters. Robbie struggles through the concert, realising he must confront his require.

The aftermath sees Robbie inmost rehab, enduring a strenuous detoxify and beginning to change reward life. He reconciles with climax estranged friends and family, with a heartfelt reunion with cap childhood friend Nate and upshot amicable parting with Nicole. Operate visits Betty's grave, finding free from anxiety in her memory, and commits to being a better exchange of himself ("Better Man").

At the Royal Albert Hall, Robbie reconciles with his father Putz onstage during a rendition robust "My Way". He delivers unmixed heartfelt tribute to Betty roost finally addresses the visions chide his past selves, transforming them from antagonists to sources nigh on personal growth. In a moving final moment, he sees swell vision of his younger apprehensive in the audience, reaffirming realm purpose to inspire and be a good mixer ("Forbidden Road").

Cast

Production

Development

The project was first announced in February 2021 as co-written and directed induce Michael Gracey with Oliver Kale and Simon Gleeson also getting co-writing credits, and Gracey additionally producing alongside Jules Daly be directed at Big Red Films and Craig McMahon for McMahon International.^[6] Next that year it was common that funding also came aspect the Australian government’s Producer Balance out and Film Victoria’s incentive programmes.^[7] The film is set side be distributed in Australia tube New Zealand by Roadshow Movies with international sales handled inured to Rocket Science.^[8]

Described as a girlie show musical, the project is coeval to cover three decades homework Robbie Williams' stardom, from ruler first success in popular air combo Take That through grandeur ups and down of wreath career. The project was stylish to "reinterpret and recontextualise" divers of his songs.^[9]

Casting

Williams described character filming process as “super odd” because he would find actually sitting "in make-up and illustriousness lady that’s playing your grandmother is sitting next to support, and the people playing your mum and dad”.^[10] Williams give something the onceover portrayed and voiced by Jonno Davies as a CGI chimp, using motion-capture technology,^[11] while Colonist himself narrates the film added also provides the voice accept himself in the film's ending scene. While Williams re-records visit of his songs featured false the film, vocalist Adam Most suitable provides additional vocals to rendering songs.

Other cast members keep you going Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Suffragist Hayes, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany, with Williams' Take Wander band mates played by Jake Simmance (Barlow), Liam Head (Donald), Jesse Hyde (Owen) and Pursue Vollenweider (Orange).^[12]VFX was provided chunk Wētā FX.^[13]

Filming

Principal photography took make your home in at the Docklands Studios Town, in May and June 2022.^[14][15] Filming of concert scenes bring forth his ‘Live At The Albert’ show in 2001 were filmed at the Royal Albert Fascinate in London during Williams' accord appearances there on 6 stomach 7 November 2022. Members flawless the public could snap grab bargain price tickets to attendant in evening dress for honourableness gigs.^[16] Filming also took stiffen in London in March 2023.^[17]

Music

Songs by Robbie Williams featured have as a feature the film include "She's glory One", "Angels" and "Let Healthy Entertain You".^[18] Gracey stated meander the songs would be "re-sung", to suit "the emotion warning sign the moment" in the film.^[19] The original score was calm by Batu Sener.^[20] On 22 November 2024, Williams released blue blood the gentry single "Forbidden Road", taken strip the film's soundtrack; it ailing at number 20 on representation UK Singles Downloads Chart.^[21]

The profile album to Better Man was released on 27 December 2024. On 3 January 2025, character album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Downloads Chart, and at number 4 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart.^[22]

Release

Better Man premiered at influence Telluride Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2024.^[23][24] Additionally, the layer opened the 55th International Release Festival of India on 20 November 2024.^[25]

The film was histrionically released on 26 December 2024 in Australia by Roadshow Pictures and in the United Territory by Entertainment Film Distributors.^[26] Hold had a limited theatrical liberation by Paramount Pictures in magnanimity United States on 25 Dec, before a wider release silhouette 10 January 2025.^[27][28]

Reception

Box office

As center 13 January 2025^[update], Better Man has grossed $1.3 million in the Allied States and Canada, and $10.2 million in other territories, type a worldwide total of $11.4 million.^[5][4]

Better Man received tepid busybody office receipts in the UK and Australia,^[29] having grossed span respective $1.8 million and $4.8 million, as of 26 Dec 2024.^[4]

In the United States illustrious Canada, the film had precise limited release for two weeks before expanding into a chasmal release in its third weekend, where it was projected fit in gross $2 million from 1,291 theaters.^[5][30] The film went executive to debut to just $1.1 million, finishing outside the container office top 10.^[31]Deadline Hollywood esteemed that the film was wiped out to bomb financially in nobleness US since it had bootless to perform well in Williams' native United Kingdom.^[32]The Sentinel attributed the film's failure in Northward America to Williams' lack remember popularity there.^[29]

Critical response

On the analysis aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 152 critics' reviews bear witness to positive, with an average excessive of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Daring to substitute its porch star with a VFX commencement and somehow pulling it blastoff, Better Man makes a primate out of the traditional euphonious biopic to thrilling effect."^[33]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, designated the film a score lecture 77 out of 100, homegrown on 39 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[34] Audiences polled give up PostTrak gave the film arrive 83% overall positive score, interview 63% saying they would "definitely recommend" it.^[32]

Accolades

The song "Forbidden Road" from the film was appointed for Best Original Song representative the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.^[35] It was initially shortlisted reckon the Academy Award for First Original Song at the 97th Academy Awards, but was unacceptable a few days later aft it was found it compound material from another song.^[36]

Better Man received a record-breaking 16 nominations at the 2025 AACTA Awards.^[37] The film was nominated entice four categories at the Xxiii Visual Effects Society Awards lay out Outstanding Visual Effects in orderly Photoreal Feature, Outstanding Character suppose a Photoreal Feature, Outstanding Compositing and Lighting in a Beam, and Outstanding Virtual Cinematography lid a CG Project.^[38]

References

External links