The official poster for *Better Man*, the new biopic chronicling the life of Robbie Williams, tantalizingly dangles fame’s dark underbelly in front of our faces. And that face? It’s a monkey. Not just a monkey, mind you—this is the kind of simian that evokes the spirit of French absurdist cinema, or perhaps something plucked straight from the warped mind of Luis Buñuel. One can’t help but chuckle at the irony here; fame indeed makes monkeys of us all, and this poster seems to mock that notion rather than uplift it. Director Michael Gracey—best known for *The Greatest Showman*, a film that dressed up its high-flying clichés in a sparkly top hat—now swings into uncharted territory. But here’s a thought: is *Better Man* looking to do for Williams what *Walk the Line* did for Johnny Cash, or is it just a shiny banana peel waiting for the audience to slip? The visual style is striking, reminiscent of celebrity-stuffed documentaries like *Exit Through the Gift Shop*, but veers dangerously close to camp, almost as if it’s aware that taking a pop star’s unique struggles and wrapping them in absurdity is both a clever narrative device and an exercise in misdirection. Is this an inquiry into the cost of celebrity or merely a gimmicky distraction? One might argue it’s a head-scratcher that dances on the edge of genius, or perhaps just revels in a cloud of confusion akin to some of the surrealist masterpieces of the ‘60s. The poster undeniably grabs attention, but whether it invites admiration or derision largely hinges on which version of Robbie Williams you thought you knew. As critics of the craft well know, biopics exist in a peculiar opacity. They promise the essence of their subjects yet often deliver something as palatable as a lukewarm cup of coffee—satisfying but hardly thrilling. So, is the allure of *Better Man* its curious portrayal of its titular hero or simply a reminder that in the world of biopics, we’re often left squinting at an unflattering reflection? Have you found yourself eager to dissect this mélange of pop culture and existential query, or are you content to watch from the sidelines as the monkeys take center stage? Dive deeper into more of the latest Movie News at reelsnark.com/news. What do you think this poster says about our humble relationship with fame?
image source: Reddit
