I’m back again. You’re back again. I love this for us! Here’s this week’s round-up of things I’ve seen, done and read – hope you enjoy. (Don’t be afraid of messaging and letting me know if you do like this new format, after months of being unable to write – I could do with the affirmation!)

Film: Better Man (Out in the UK December 26th)

When the director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) heard Robbie Williams’ self-reflection about his career and how it felt like being ‘dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey’ – he knew the idea for his new project. And so we have a musical biopic like no other, where Robbie Williams (providing voiceover and vocals) tells us his life story, where he appears as a monkey. The brilliant thing is, that is never explained or addressed in the film. He has human family, human partners and does everything a human boy then man would do – he just happens to be a monkey. It’s simultaneously an exceptionally on-the-nose allegory and yet is oddly subtle, wonderfully entertaining, unexpectedly profound and at times immensely moving – a combination which sums up the man, myth, legend himself. Flying through it’s over two hour runtime, we learn about Robbie’s difficult relationship with his dad and how it shaped him – for better and way worse. We watch the multiple rises and falls, the glorious highs and bitterly dark lows; along with some vital reflection on addiction, mental health, masculinity and imposter syndrome. Williams is an open and honest tour guide to his past, unafraid to tell us his thoughts and admit his own mistakes. It’s closest comparison would be Elton John’s Rocketman, both films able to balance being exposing yet entertaining. Really cannot wait to see this again! [4.5/5 stars]

TV: Boybands Forever (3 x 60 mins docuseries on BBC iPlayer now)

A fantastic inadvertent companion piece to Better Man, as Robbie is one of the man talking heads who features, with episode one especially being about Take That and the struggles that went on under the surface. Covering the just-over a decade where boybands dominated the teenage hearts and music charts of the nation, we get to hear from the people who were at the centre of the madness – the ‘boys’ themselves, the music men responsible for the machinations of machine that curated them and the press who lauded and lambasted them. The result is a fascinating and extraordinarily insightful re-examining that shows both how far we have come as a society and also how, still, not nearly enough is being done to protect budding popstars from the shark-infested waters they get thrown in. [5/5 stars]

Film: Gladiator II (Out now)

It’s the obvious opener to this mini review, to rhetorically propose ‘are you not entertained’ by Gladiator II? The answer is, mostly entertained. Pretty much entertained. Does the job entertained. Running at 158 minutes, the film maintains interest at a steady pace – there are much shorter films that feel far longer. But, it’s not the kind of film you’ll be thinking about after, not like it’s iconic predecessor. That’s because it feels like it’s treading a lot of the same paths as it’s older sibling, but less potently. Considering the amount of deaths that occur, even within the film’s opening sequence alone, it’s surprisingly bloodless – until the odd surprise here and there. Instead of the powerhouse central lead that Russell Crowe provided, we’re split between the loyalties of two perfectly decent – if under characterised and slightly unremarkable – figures (Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal). The entertainment, perhaps unsurprisingly, comes from our villains. Denzel Washington especially seems to be having a blast, hamming it up panto style as a plotting Iago-esque figure who steals every scene he’s in – no mean feat considering how clunky the majority of the dialogue is. Solid, if overly broody. [3.5/5 stars]

Book: The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley (Out now – currently 99p on Kindle!!!)

Stories about Found Families, and/or when an unlikely community have to come together to overcome difficult circumstances – those bad boys are my kryptonite. When the world feels bleaker, darker and scarier near-enough by the day, why wouldn’t you want to read a book where hope prevails in the fact of love & unswerving support? Having loved How To Age Disgracefully (in my top 5 releases of 2024) I was optimistic I’d like this one too, thankfully I was very right in that thinking. Short chapters, told from alternating character points-of-view, is ideal when coming out a reading slump – especially when the characters are this developed and delightful. We first meet Iona, an aging former IT girl who is clinging to her job as a magazine advice columnist. Every day she boards the 8.05 train to Waterloo, following the exact same routines, ascribing a nickname to her fellow commuters. When a near-death experience brings a group of them together, with Iona as the unexpected centre, they all come to realise that reality is often far more brilliant than the assumptions we might make. Delightfully life-affirming. [5/5 stars]

Film: Wicked (In cinemas worldwide now)

Am I intentionally burying this review at the bottom because I’m afraid it will cause a scandal? No comment. I acknowledge that this is a film that is both tailor-made for me (because I love musicals, all things camp, fantasy and gorgeous costumes) but also isn’t for me in the slightest (I have no real affection or connection to the story, I saw the stage show for the first and last time 8 years ago and thought it was perfectly fine). Aside from having Defying Gravity on my musical theatre running playlist, I don’t really know the soundtrack either. I did, however, go into the film open-minded if sceptical about the runtime. This 161 minute long film is part one of the story, which takes you up to the interval in the stage show. The stage show, in total, is 165 minutes long.

How wisely that additional amount of time is spend will depend on your overall affinity with the show, for fans this is undoubtedly an invaluable opportunity to spend even longer in this magical world you have adored from afar for so long. It certainly is immersive, the set design and costumes are beautiful. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are fantastic leads, both performances have a real sense of nuance and characterisation, even if their press tour has been side-eye inducing to say the least. Jonathan Bailey is phenomenal as Fiyero, the man has so much charisma he could impregnate a wall just by looking at it. But, where I get unstuck is the story and some of the dialogue. Without the years of nostalgia, I found myself unable to truly get on board for this adventure. [3/5 stars]