I have always had a love/hate relationship with Robbie Williams. I was not a huge Take That fan in the 90’s but when Robbie went solo I took notice. He was ‘my type’. The dark hair and green eyes with a twinkle does it for me. It also does it for millions of fans he has around the world. Funnily enough, I started taking notice after a weird dream where he knocked on my door to escape his fans. It could be an episode of Lucifer what happened next so I won’t go into details. But it made me sit up and follow his career. I bought his albums and saw him at Milton Keynes Bowl the year before Knebworth. It was awesome. I was hooked at whatever he was selling. (Pimpin' ain't easy - But if you're sellin' it; It's alright).
I always loved the Guy Chambers/Robbie collabs. The songs are strong and it endorsed my fandom. In fact, I followed him for years until he said something on Graham Norton about his wife giving birth that really shouldn’t be said on national television. I felt he crossed a line and felt for his wife. So then he was left in the wilderness as far as I was concerned right up until recently when he did the Netflix documentary which helped me to understand what he has been through. My heart softened and once again I felt for him. Because we all want to feel real love in the home that we live in.
Better Man explores all his demons and I was once again, right there with him. Robert Williams had a difficult childhood feeling his dad abandoned him to go chase the bright lights of singing on stage. Robbie was impressionable. He had his mum and gran’s love but that wasn’t enough. He wanted to be someone. He almost didn’t get into Take That. He was on his way out of the door when he turned around and said something cheeky with a wink. That nailed it. The issue with Take That was it was set up as Gary’s band. (I think this was true throughout the 90’s). Robbie didn’t want to be a backing band member. He has ‘IT’ and needs to shine. The film rides the Take That bus rather quickly but I loved how their hairstyles changed according to the year and song.
We quickly fall down the rabbit hole with Robbie into a mix of drugs, alcohol, pressure to perform and fighting all his monsters who tell him he is nothing. Its more than self doubt or imposter syndrome. Its fighting where you came from and your right to succeed. This is part of the film’s brilliance. It is relatable to all of us who have felt this way. No matter what job you do (we aren’t all gonna be stars on stage and receive gold discs for our music) but I am sure many sitting in the audience recognised the pain of being told you are nothing. You are a nobody and should not rock the boat.
The songs are not in any chronological order so don’t expect that. The first song Guy and Robbie are supposedly writing is Something Beautiful which I was delighted was in the film as its my favourite song. This song spoke to me at a time in my life when I was newly single from my first divorce. We are all hoping for something beautiful to come our way. Its some of Robbie’s best work so for those that don’t know it, please do give it a listen.
I literally had tears streaming down my face almost throughout the whole film. For me, I understand the draw of fame and need to be the centre of attention. That is a brave thing to write but I cannot explain it. Its inside of me and always has been. I was crying for Robbie but also crying for me. I never became the famous actress I desired to be when I was 15 and luckily, I never became an addict. To be famous at 15 was never gonna give Robbie a chance so he fell down. He is always honest (sometimes too honest to the media) but that is something to be commended. He would tell you what he thinks. There is no hidden agenda with Robbie. And that is why we love him. We see he can be arrogant but recognise its his vulnerability that makes him this way.
Better Man is Robbie telling his story. Such a saint but such a whore probably fulfils the brief but honestly I think this film is more than just another famous musician making money. It's Robbie making amends. With his friends, family, fans but most of all, with himself.
Better Man is currently in cinemas.
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