Rocketman
Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell
Director Dexter Fletcher
Review Ray Chan
Cast aside all comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody.
Rocketman may tell the
story of a musical superstar whose musical legacy is as enduring as Freddie
Mercury’s, but that’s where the similarities end.
In this biopic about
Elton Hercules John, director Dexter Fletcher and screenwriter Lee Hall employ
the artist’s songs to actually tell the story, akin to a Broadway musical where
the music creates and feeds the narrative, with each phase of Elton’s
life converted into lavish numbers.
For young Reginald
Dwight, it began with an innate ear for sound. When he hears a piece of music on the
radio, he is able to play it back on the piano immediately. At an
audition, he easily repeats what the teacher was practising, all from memory.
The story is told
essentially in flashback, with an outlandishly-suited Elton bursting into a
support group circle to talk about his various addictions (sex, drugs, rock'n'roll and anger management), which takes place in his much-publicised stint in rehab
back in 1990.
The rolling back of the years begins with his five-year old self (Matthew Illesley) singing The Bitch Is Back, backed up by his neighbours. His aloof mum, emotionally-removed dad and his loving gran help provide the vocals for what is essentially the theme coursing through the veins of the film, I Want Love.
Along the way he is connected with songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), who ends up becoming his lyricist for the next 50 years, authoring nearly all of the pianoman's hits.
Elton’s search for love and acceptance results in an attempt to merge the platonic and the romantic with his new BFF, who respectfully declines, leading him down the path to John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his lover and manager, but with contemptible intentions as both.
The journey conveys us through the glory years, when Elton was the hottest ticket on Earth and proved to be as much a Rock-It Man as a Rocketman, and the despondent times, when the sun went down on him and he attempted suicide.
Egerton himself is no stranger to the real Elton, who had a pivotal role in the former’s Kingsman sequel. The actor can carry a tune and does himself no disservice in his renditions from Elton’s songbook.
Despite blacked-out teeth to simulate Elton’s gappy incisors, viewers may note that there really isn't that close a resemblance. But this works in Egerton's favour, as he is able to create an exalted version of the artist that’s all his own and less of a direct impersonation.
The rolling back of the years begins with his five-year old self (Matthew Illesley) singing The Bitch Is Back, backed up by his neighbours. His aloof mum, emotionally-removed dad and his loving gran help provide the vocals for what is essentially the theme coursing through the veins of the film, I Want Love.
Along the way he is connected with songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), who ends up becoming his lyricist for the next 50 years, authoring nearly all of the pianoman's hits.
Elton’s search for love and acceptance results in an attempt to merge the platonic and the romantic with his new BFF, who respectfully declines, leading him down the path to John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his lover and manager, but with contemptible intentions as both.
The journey conveys us through the glory years, when Elton was the hottest ticket on Earth and proved to be as much a Rock-It Man as a Rocketman, and the despondent times, when the sun went down on him and he attempted suicide.
Egerton himself is no stranger to the real Elton, who had a pivotal role in the former’s Kingsman sequel. The actor can carry a tune and does himself no disservice in his renditions from Elton’s songbook.
Despite blacked-out teeth to simulate Elton’s gappy incisors, viewers may note that there really isn't that close a resemblance. But this works in Egerton's favour, as he is able to create an exalted version of the artist that’s all his own and less of a direct impersonation.
There's an all-too short sequence featuring the ill-fated wedding to Renata (which took place in Australia, of course, though there's no indication in the movie) which begs the question of why it was included in the first place. But the film ends on a high, with a
perfect re-creation of Elton’s old I’m Still Standing video, a comeback anthem
if there ever was one.
The knighted performer
has been a survivor his entire life and Egerton provides a perfect proxy with
which to tell the tale, which certainly whets the appetite for Elton's farewell
concert in Australia later this year.
#rocketman #nrccommunications
