Reginald Kenneth Dwight, better known as Sir Elton John, is one of the most successful musical artists of all time. His records have sold millions of copies worldwide, he’s had several Top 40 hits, and has had several number-one albums. Some of his most famous songs include “Crocodile Rock”, “Your Song”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, and “Candle in the Wind.” Naturally, with his life story and success, plans for a biopic had been in development for over two decades. One reason why the project staggered was because studios insisted the film be PG-13, but Elton didn’t want that. Eventually, while working on 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle, director Matthew Vaughn decided to produce the film. He personally recommended Dexter Fletcher to helm the project, after being turned down for Bohemian Rhapsody, interestingly enough. With Taron Egerton in the lead role, 2019 saw the release of the anticipated musical biopic, Rocketman.
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Synopsis
As a child, Reggie was raised by his cold mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard), and his caring grandmother (Gemma Jones). He becomes interested in playing the piano, receiving a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music for his talents. Having grown up, he changes his name to Elton John (Taron Egerton) and starts getting his first taste of success. He manages to get a deal with manager Ray Williams (Charlie Rowe) and meets songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). The two become a hit after a performance of “Crocodile Rock” at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles. Soon, Elton falls for John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his new manager, but things start spiraling downward. John does find success with his flamboyant persona, but ends up addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and sex, Reid not caring. It’s a story of the price of fame and how people can leach off your success.
Review
When news of the film first started surfacing, many people were starting to draw comparisons with Bohemian Rhapsody. Obviously, they’re similar in that they’re both biopics about successful rock musicians struggling with addiction and their sexual identity. However, between the two, while Bohemian Rhapsody has its positives, I feel that Rocketman is easily the stronger film. For one, as good as Rami Malek was as Freddy Mercury, Taron Egerton delivers a great performance and then some. Not only is his acting amazing, but he also does his own singing, and he does a phenomenal job at that. Also, while Bohemian Rhapsody mostly skirted around the darker moments, Rocketman embraces those moments and doesn’t pull back. You really get a sense of the struggles that Elton went through and see the low points in his life. This is definitely the film that Freddy Mercury should have gotten in the first place.
What helps set this movie apart is that, though following the typical biopic structure, there’s very lively energy here. While they may seem obtrusive, the musical numbers help give the film a ton of energy and fun. Many of the numbers and songs used help to show what Elton was going through during parts of his life. Some of the highlights include the use of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and the titular “Rocketman”. Aside from Egerton, the rest of the cast does a good job, Bell is particularly giving a very human performance. You really feel for these two friends, how they support one another, and how they remain friends for years. If this film doesn’t receive at least one Oscar nomination, it will be a damn shame for that awards season. Overall, Rocketman is a powerful biopic that does its subject matter justice.
Buy Rocketman on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Mptt3W.
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