This film is not what I expected
Plot
A singular profile of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. The film emerged from multiple interview recordings that filmmaker Michael Gracey conducted with Robbie Williams over the course of a year and a half at Williams’ Recording Studio in Los Angeles, USA. Although the interviews were not originally for a film, as Gracey “just wanted to capture [Williams] in his own voice telling his story,” he said, the majority of Williams’ voiceover in the film comes from those recordings. Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode dated December 5, 2024 (2024).
Jonno Davies is fantastic as Robbie and perfectly captures his movements and idiosyncrasies
In a Robbie Williams biopic, one would expect colour, theatrics, music and dancing, and this film does not disappoint on the spectacle. But while lesser biopics take you on a journey through an artist’s successes, this film takes you on a journey through the psyche of Robbie Williams as he tries to come to terms with getting everything he’s ever wanted but feels like it’s still not enough. The film moves along at a breakneck pace and there are very few moments where the film stops to breathe, however it’s a credit to Michael Gracey and the team around him that the film still packs powerful emotional punches. The team at Weta should also be congratulated for their incredible job in transforming his performance into a chimpanzee which symbolises how Robbie sees himself (an actor monkey, less evolved than those around him).
The film benefits greatly from being an independent film
Raechelle Banno plays Nicole Appleton (from All Saints) and gives an emotional performance as Robbie’s fiancée. Her dance performance and the montage of their meeting is truly one of the highlights of the film. Steve Pemberton is perfect as Robbie’s father, the man who made him what he became in the worst possible way. It feels like the story Michael Gracey really wanted to tell.
His singing and voice-over work was also exceptional
Sex drugs and rock and roll are laid bare in all their grotesque glory. Robbie Williams himself must also be highly praised for allowing the film to lay all of its flaws and mistakes at the feet of the audience. He does not come off well in large parts of the film and the film is enhanced by his honesty with the audience. This film is bombastic and direct for almost the entire runtime, but like the man it is capturing, it has a sensitive soul just beneath all the bravado.
I hope it achieves the success it deserves
It is the best film of the year, a visual and auditory feast.
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