parksiet

Better Man is a fresh, eccentric take on a musical biopic! Full of catchy songs, incredible dance sequences, heartfelt family moments, boyband drama, AND some of the most visually stunning scenes I've ever seen on the big screen! That said, I had no idea who Robbie Williams was/is prior to seeing it, and many in North America clearly feel the same way. Not to mention, the CGI monkey gimmick seemed silly. But my god, what a gigantic surprise Better Man is! I'm so glad I saw it in theatres - it utterly blew me away. Vulnerable, electric, magical cinema from start to finish. It has no right to be as good as it was! It's bold, brash, raw, and unapologetically honest, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll sing and you'll do it all your way, it's without exaggeration - astonishing. Robbie Williams tells his own brash, arrogant story, but with a simple enough twist to stick the landing.

Michael Gracey has proven that the success of The Greatest Showman was not a fluke. As someone who adores that film, seeing what he has been working on since then was my main draw to this film. He did not disappoint - Gracey's direction is the real star of the show for me here. What a gorgeous, stylish movie. And Gracey really knows how to craft a show-stopping musical number! Not to sound hyperbolic, but the Rock DJ number is clearly the most energetic, well-constructed, and cinematic musical number of the year. So much precise camera work that left my jaw on the floor. There is a clear difference between what's going on here vs any other musical this year. Michael Gracey is the real deal!

Anyone who is underwhelmed by most modern musicals and biopics (me) would eat up Better Man! It doesn't eschew the biopic cliches we know and loathe, but it's got a bold energy that just makes it work and stand out from the rest of the crowd. It reminds me of Rocketman - something that included a musical/fantasy element to tell the story in an unconventional way that makes it refreshing. I'm so glad Better Man did something different and truly succeeded at it! When it hits Digital, clips of the film's gonzo surrealism and cracked out musical sequences are going to go viral and people are gonna be like, "Woah, why didn't anyone tell me about this?" The gimmick of the main character being a CGI monkey is a bit strange at first but you get used to it quickly. (The visual effects are also stellar!) I definitely didn't expect this movie to nearly make me cry on multiple occasions but it did. This would have made my best of 2024 list had I seen it sooner!

The cast is great, especially Jonno Davies who was able to display so much range and emotion under the ape motion capture. The choice to make Robbie a full CGI ape is a bold and unique choice to display how Robbie has felt his entire life around his friends, family, and the world. You may think it's a gimmick, but I think it's the ingredient that makes the whole thing come together.

I'm kind of in awe that Better Man exists and I had pretty much zero investment in Robbie Williams at all before tonight. It's just a great movie and a biopic that manages to break the form in interesting ways. I adored Better Man and it's such a crying shame that the conversation around whether Robbie deserves a biopic is overshadowing the fact that this is the first music biopic to actually have the guts to take some risks, and some really bloody creative ones at that! An unapologetic and unflattering look at the price of fame on not just yourself, but the people around you. It's often solemn, depressing, and surprisingly emotional, but equally brash, humourous, and always entertaining. It makes so many interesting decisions, both visually and conceptually, and I promise you, there is far more to Better Man than you'd think from the trailer. FAR more.

To those of you who have never heard of Robbie Williams: You don't have to watch Better Man because you don't know who he is, you should watch it because it's a great film and a truly well-made biopic with a lot of interesting things to say! Go learn about his music, and find out for yourself who he is in such a fun way!

Better Man is a bold, fantastical musical blending Robbie Williams' life with surreal fantasy. Its odd premise may polarize viewers, but its heartfelt performances, ambitious numbers, and commentary on fame make it as unique and daring as the artist himself. I'm shocked at how good this was - I loved it and highly recommend it!

While it follows the same, now predictable formula as the first two films, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a very fun and enjoyable watch for the whole family! If you liked the first two films, there is no doubt in my mind you will like this - it delivers on the same exciting action, silly comedy and brings back all the characters you've come to love! This franchise really knows its audience well, and really seems to listen to the fans and improve on each entry! And once again, Jim Carrey is the highlight of the film for me. Sonic 3 is very good and very funny in no small part because of Carrey, who really pulls out all the stops - it's like a classic 90s Carrey performance. I love that he keeps coming back for these movies, and I will continue to show up to see a new Jim Carrey performance. Of course, Team Sonic was lots of fun once again and I really enjoyed the introduction of Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves! Overall, I laughed and had a great time! It's nothing special, but it was such an enjoyable time at the movies! Sonic fans will be happy!

I couldn't help but think of how much A Different Man reminded me of the works of Charlie Kaufman - it is so uniquely profound in its storytelling. A Different Man is a dark comedy exploring insecurities and wanting to be a better version of yourself - essentially our obsession with self-image. The writing is really great - it may start out slow but the last hour is lightning in a bottle. It's uniquely funny, pretty dark, and very perceptive about the masks we wear and those we can't shed. And it features a fascinating performance from Sebastian Stan, who delivers some of his best work! However, it is Adam Pearson who steals the show with a very charismatic performance, fully embracing his own face.