Film Review: Rocketman Shows Elton John’s Journey To Self-Love
Similar to Moulin Rouge, Rocketman feels like a Broadway musical gorgeously transferred into film. Yet, what can you expect from an Elton John biopic. Flashy and colorful are definitive attributes to Elton’s aesthetic but dangerously self-loathing and a “love fool” are the newest titles this film surprisingly adds.
Rocketman (2019) – Official Trailer – Paramount Pictures
It is no secret that Elton struggled with addiction and could mismanage relationships. Yet, the Rocketman delves into the depth, ugliness, and domination of his insecurities and how they led to his loveless life. For all his talent and desire to love others, he could not receive love. Thus, in not being able to absorb the genuine care he was given from his friendship with songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) or his supportive grandmother (Gemma Jones as Ivy), Elton zeroed in on those that mistreated him such as his mom, Bryce Dallas Howard as the vicious Sheila, and dad, Steven Mackintosh as the egregiously cold Stanley. These dynamics give Rocketman a strong, life lesson that everyone needs to learn; those that did not love you cannot be your excuse for hating yourself.
Taron Egerton – Rocket Man (Official Video)
Of course, we expect our parents to love us. We expect them to care, protect, and guide us, but they are human. Some parents only have the strength or spiritual capacity to choose solely for themselves. Rocketman begins with a sparkling introduction into Elton’s childhood, and the tragedy of having two parents that have NO PROBLEM saying they did not want him. Matthew Illesley and Kit Connor do a wonderful job of playing Elton when he was Reggie; a young kid/ teen that was painfully shy, super sweet, incredibly smart, and eager to know how to bridge all these attributes into stardom. Elton always wanted to lead the world to love through performance, but Rocketman is about a person that followed the wrong people when it came to love in life.
Richard Madden plays John Reid with such a visceral meanness and cruelty that, as a viewer, you become disgusted with him. Frankly, I went into the film not knowing much about Elton’s biography and love life beyond light, ignorable fodder. Hence, the minute John Reid entered the screen, it was my intuition that reacted with a, “Bad Guy Alert!” NO GOOD MAN wears a full suit, including undershirt, at a concert venue during a hot, June summer in LA. Even worse, he did not look sweaty, which means he is too used to hellish heat (lol!) Yet, it was a strange tell that spoke to Reid’s role in Elton’s life. In a world full color, led by a man filled with vibrance, John Reid was the grey, organized cloud looming over Elton to systemically isolate him.
Elton John & Taron Egerton – ‘Tiny Dancer’ (Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party)
As I watched Reid berate and beat Elton John, I doubted whether the Tiny Dancer singer would make it. Taron Egerton gives such a spectacular performance that you forget Elton John is a real person. Instead, to viewers, he appears like a cinematic, music hero. Egerton amplifies Elton’s demeanor, quirks, and big heart like one would a comic book legend. The result is an beautifully immersive film that, at least once, made me say, “I hope Elton John makes it!” as if I did not know THAT HE DID! That is like going to watch a movie about Jesus and saying to your friend, “No spoilers!” Yet, between the magical music sequences and Egerton’s pretty spot-on, vocal imitation of Elton, this biopic film deserved more than an Oscar. It should be nominated for Best Musical at The Tonys.
ROCKETMAN All Clips & Trailers (2019)
The greatest success of Elton John’s Rocketman is that it makes you like the singer. Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, by the end of Rocketman, viewers will feel protective over Elton and relieved that he is living his best life. While there is lightness in this film thanks to Elton’s music and the humbling kindness Bell uses to play Bernie, the movie is surprisingly dark. Personally, it breaks my heart to see someone destroy themselves, and Rocketman does not shy away from the multiple times Elton pressed “auto-destruct” on his soul. Yet, in a world that falters on whether we should believe and thus give redemption, Rocketman shows that redemption is not something given to you by others. Similar to love, it is something you give to yourself and let them receive. Rocketman comes out in theaters on May 31. GO SEE IT!!!!!!
