Rocketman soars as high as a kite. Since Elton John is one of the greatest living musicians, it was only a matter of time before someone gave him a biopic. Turns out the singer had been wanting a movie based on his life story since the 2000’s. The timing couldn’t have been better for it to happen in 2019. Dexter Fletcher directed Rocketman a year after his uncredited work on Bohemian Rhapsody. Both musical biopics center around gay singers who dealt with a lot of personal struggles. Music manager John Reid also plays a part in both stories. Even more ironic is the fact that Taron Egerton was practically born to play Elton John. Though singers and/or actors like Justin Timberlake and Tom Hardy were considered, Egerton had a lot of bizarre connections to the singer.
Egerton already sang “I’m Still Standing” in Sing and John himself had a featured role in The Golden Circle. He also happened to work with Fletcher before on Eddie the Eagle. Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn encouraged the casting by becoming a co-producer. Edgerton pulls off the bespectacled look and every flamboyant outfit. Although I saw Bohemian Rhapsody in theaters, I chose not to do the same with Rocketman. Though I am a big fan of John’s songs, the R rating spoke for itself. Unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman doesn’t hold back on the singer’s homosexuality or various addictions. The film explores his younger days as a piano prodigy and the strained relationship with his parents that led to him changing his name from Reginald Dwight to Elton John.
Bryce Dallas Howard is practically unrecognizable as his mother. As his star rises, John forms his longest lasting platonic relationship with songwriter Bernie Taupin played by Jamie Bell. His troubled love life includes abusive manager Reid played by Richard Madden, but his relationships with women are significantly downplayed. Rocketman is more of a fantasy with purposeful historic inaccuracies and stylish musical numbers for all his songs. Every performance is fun to watch, but Elton’s rehab visits and struggle to love himself are the heart of his life’s story. Which is why “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” won Best Original Song. And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time ’til anything tops Rocketman.
Elton John dressed up
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I am not sure why exactly, but while watching this movie, I cried a lot. I really liked Taron Egerton as Reggie.
I do have a memory about Elton John too… I once paid a lot of money to see him live in concert. Technically, the concert was perfect. But really, it was boring as all. He sat at his piano, playing for more than 3 hours – we really got our money’s worth, but there was no spark with the audience, no banter, no joking – no energy. A bit sad really. But the music itself was flawless.
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Sounds like a treat to see a musical legend in person. Even if it is low energy.
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Yes, absolutely. To be able and allow myself to see live music from time to time is prescious, and I am well aware of that. 💜✨
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I’m normally leery about bio films as they tend to stretch things a lot in certain aspects of the varied subjects lives, but I’ve had a few relatives who’ve seen it and said it was a very decent film that stayed fairly close to John’s life, though I imagine it was because he’s still with us and can tell people what was authentic and not.
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He has lived a full enough life that it made sense to do a biopic.
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I love Rocketman as I think that Egerton did a great job in the role….both in his acting and in his singing. Plus, I love how the movie utilized Elton John’s songs into the movie and it reflected his real life situations.
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How they use the songs are always the best thing about any biopic centered around a singer.
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