Better Man (2024 film)

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Better Man
Directed by Michael Gracey
Written byMichael Gracey
Oliver Cole
Simon Gleeson
Produced by
  • Craig McMahon
  • Paul Currie
  • Michael Gracey
  • Coco Xiaolu Ma
Starring
Cinematography Erik Wilson
Music byBatu Sener (score)
Robbie Williams (songs)
Production
companies
  • Footloose Productions
  • Zero Gravity Management
  • Jumpy Cow Pictures
  • Showman
  • Rocket Science
Distributed by
Release dates
  • August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)(Telluride)
  • December 26, 2024 (2024-12-26)(Australia)
Running time
134 minutes
CountriesAustralia
United States
LanguageEnglish

Better Man is a 2024 biographical film about the British pop singer Robbie Williams, directed by Michael Gracey. Williams is portrayed as a monkey, performed using motion-capture technology by Jonno Davies.

Contents

Better Man premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in theaters in Australia on 26 December 2024 by Roadshow Films.

Cast

Production

Development

The project was first announced in February 2021 as co-written and directed by Michael Gracey with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson also having co-writing credits, and Gracey also producing alongside Jules Daly for Big Red Films and Craig McMahon for McMahon International. [1] Later that year it was reported that funding also came via the Australian government’s Producer Offset and Film Victoria’s incentive programme’s. [2] The film is set to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Roadshow Films with international sales handled by Rocket Science. [3]

Described as a satirical musical, the project is reported to cover three decades of Robbie Williams stardom, from his first success in popular music combo Take That through the ups and down of his career. The project was reported to "reinterpret and recontextualize" some of his songs. [4]

Casting

Williams is set to play himself with Jonno Davies playing the younger version. Williams described the filming process as “super odd” because he would find himself “sat in make-up and the lady that’s playing your grandma is sitting next to you, and the people playing your mum and dad”. [5] Williams is portrayed by Jonno Davies as a monkey, using motion-capture technology. [6]

Other cast members include Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Anthony Hayes, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany, with Williams' Take That band mates set to be played Jake Simmance (Barlow), Liam Head as (Donald), Jesse Hyde (Owen) and Chase Vollenweider (Orange). [7]

Filming

Principal photography took place at the Docklands Studios Melbourne, in May and June 2022. [8] [9] Filming of concert scenes from his ‘Live At The Albert’ show in 2001 were filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London during Williams' concert appearances there on 6 and 7 November 2022. Members of the public could snap up bargain price tickets to attend in evening dress for the gigs. [10] Filming also took place in London in March 2023. [11]

Music

Songs by Robbie Williams reportedly to feature in the film include ‘She’s The One’, ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’. [12] However, the director Gracey explained that the songs will be “re-sung”, to suit “the emotion of the moment” in the film. [13] The original score to the film will be provided by Batu Sener. [14]

Release

Better Man premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2024. [15] [16] The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in Australia on 26 December 2024; a limited theatrical release in the United States will take place a day prior, with a wider release set for 17 January 2025. [17] [18]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 85% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (21 February 2021). "Singer Robbie Williams Biopic Ready To Rock; 'The Greatest Showman's Michael Gracey Directing For Summer Shoot: Hot EFM Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Dalton, Ben (3 December 2021). "Robbie Williams biopic 'Better Man' to shoot in Australia in 2022". Screen Daily. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Frater, Patrick (2 December 2021). "Robbie Williams Biopic 'Better Man' to Film in Australia". Variety. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Shrishty (25 August 2022). "'A Better Man': Docuseries About Former Take That Member Robbie Williams Lands at Netflix". Collider. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Cairns, Dan (10 September 2022). "Robbie Williams: 'Fame is only ever toxic. None of us are well-rounded'". The Times. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Lee, Benjamin (11 September 2024). "Better Man review – Robbie Williams monkey biopic is a bananas gamble that pays off". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "This is the actor set to play a young Robbie Williams in his upcoming biopic 'Better Man'". Thehits.co.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Roberts, Kit (30 June 2022). "Robbie Williams film Better Man - latest cast and the plot details". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Domjen, Briana (1 May 2022). "First pictures: Robbie Williams biopic Better Man filming in Melbourne". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Rowland-Dixon, Taye (26 October 2022). "Robbie Williams at the Royal Albert Hall – Two Concerts for the Forthcoming Movie 'Better Man'". Verge Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Elliott, Louise (29 March 2023). "Filming for Robbie Williams biopic Better Man as Jonno Davies takes star role". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Reilly, Nick (23 February 2021). "Robbie Williams biopic from 'The Greatest Showman' director is in the works". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Krol, Charlotte (2 March 2021). "Robbie Williams will reportedly be portrayed by a CGI monkey in 'Better Man' biopic". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Batu Sener Scores Michael Gracey's Better Man".
  15. ↑ Jeremy Kay, "Toronto film festival adds Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Edward Burns, David Mackenzie titles". Screen Daily , July 22, 2024.
  16. ↑ Hammond, Pete (29 August 2024). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes 'Saturday Night', 'The Piano Lesson', 'Conclave' & 'Nickel Boys' World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  17. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (28 February 2024). "'Naked Gun' Remake Set for 2025 by Paramount; 'TMNT' and 'Paw Patrol' Sequels Dated for 2026". Variety . Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  18. ↑ Frater, Patrick (30 May 2024). "Joel Pearlman to Exit Australia's Village Roadshow After 30 Year Tenure – Global Bulletin". Variety . Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  19. ↑ "Better Man". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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