41/14
Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode 5 December 2024 (2024)
A unique profile of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. The film is based on a series of recorded interviews that director Michael Gracey conducted with Robbie Williams over a year and a half at Williams’ recording studio in Los Angeles, USA. Although the interviews were not originally intended for a film, as Gracey “simply wanted to capture [Williams] in his own voice, telling his story,” most of Williams’ voiceover in the film is from these recordings. Robbie Williams: If You’re Going to Laugh, Just Do It on the Inside, Right?
This film is not what I expected
In a Robbie Williams biopic, one would expect color, theatricality, music and dancing, and this film does not disappoint in terms of entertainment. But while lesser biopics take you on a journey through the artist’s hits, this film takes you on a journey through Robbie Williams’ psyche as he tries to come to terms with having everything he’s ever wanted but feels it’s still not quite enough at breakneck speed and there are very few moments where the film stops to catch its breath, but it’s a credit to Michael Gracie and the team around him that the film still packs a powerful emotional punch. Jono Davies is fantastic as Robbie, capturing his movements and idiosyncrasies perfectly. The Weta team should also be commended for their incredible work transforming his performance into a chimpanzee, which symbolises how Robbie sees himself (the ape he plays, 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 who he is, in the worst possible way. It feels like the story Michael Gracie really wanted to tell.
This is the best film of the year, a visual and aural feast
The sex, drugs and rock and roll are laid bare in all their grotesque glory. Robbie Williams himself should also be given much credit for allowing the film to lay all his flaws and mistakes at the feet of the audience. He doesn’t perform well for large parts of the film and the film is strengthened by his honesty with the audience. His singing and voice-over were also exceptional and in your face for almost the entire running time, but much like the man he captures, there is a sensitive soul just beneath all the bravado.