Over the years, I've developed a thing for movies that are based on true-life events, and I find such movies attractive. I didn't know this particular one was based on a true event, though, because it didn't seem like it, but then I kept my cool till the movie ended and the true life event was portrayed with images.
The plot
The movie tells the story of a singer, Robbie Williams. When Robbie was eight years old, he was humiliated during a football game and stormed off in anger. Robbie went home and found solace in the arms of his grandmother, Betty. Robbie's father, Peter, is a singer who teaches Robbie how to sing in style. Often, the father and son would sing, holding remotes in their hands like a microphone.
Robbie imagines himself singing in a crowd where he is being loved and applauded for but when he opens his eyes, he would be faced with the reality of singing with his father in his sitting room. As a teenager, Robbie declared his ambition to be a famous singer despite the criticism he received from different career counseling sessions. His perseverance peaks when his best friend tells him about an audition for a boy band.
Robbie went for the audition and was rejected but his determination and confidence gave him a spot in the band. Robbie was loved by his band members, but fortunately, the love extended to the fans. As his fame grows, Robbie begins struggling with self-doubt and addiction to drugs.
Robbie's addictions started affecting his performance on stage thereby leading to his dismissal from the band. Robbie struggled with a lot of things, from his father abandoning him and his mother. Watch the movie and find more things unfolding.
My Review
The first question I asked myself was about the monkey in the movie, a monkey that wasn't bullied due to how he looked; he was generally accepted and loved by everyone despite his looks. I got to understand the whole thing better when I heard the real-life Robbie Williams in a podcast where he shared his character looking like a monkey.
According to him, "I've always seen myself as a performing monkey." Now, this statement explains it all. This movie is a heartfelt, emotional, and fast-paced life through the toxicity of the game "fame."
What made me stay glued to my screen all through was the film's ability to capture those intimate struggles while also infusing moments of joy and humor. It shows a man who is an iconic superstar but yet a conflicted soul. I'm enjoyed every scene of this film, the suspense that made me stay glued to my screen was topnotch.
This movie made me realize that often, in the process of finding ourselves, we are still likely to lose ourselves, just like Robbie Williams; despite finding success in his career, he was still losing himself with addiction and self-doubt.
I'm gonna recommend this film to anyone who seems interested in it. I'm gonna rate this movie an 8/10.
Images are screenshots from my phone
Thanks for reading 🧡