Robbie Williams isn't monkeying around in this gripping tale of redemption

Michael Gracey directs Better Man, a biopic that brilliantly portrays the British superstar's highs and lows

- Husain Rizvi

When Michael Gracey asked Robbie Williams about his spirit animal, the British pop superstar said lion. The director wasn’t convinced, so Robbie said, “Monkey?”

The two agreed, and Gracey went on to make Better Man, a musical biopic that tells the true story of Robbie’s rise, fall, and resurgence. The twist? Robbie is portrayed as a CGI chimpanzee in an otherwise human world.

The singing and eyes are of the man himself, but the movements are credited to actor Jonno Davies. This inventive choice, brought to life by Weta FX (the team behind Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), is both startling and effective. It’s a metaphor that captures Robbie’s cheeky, irreverent personality and his vulnerability. The result is a biopic that’s unafraid to push creative boundaries while diving deep into the complexities of fame and personal struggles.

The story in itself is straightforward — a kid, or shall we say baby chimp, filled with ambitions of fame and idolising the likes of Frank Sinatra, has to deal with a negligent father. He chases fame and gets it, but then has a downward spiral because of substance abuse, which ultimately leads to severe depression until he decides to stop, become better, and make amends.