Nominated For: Best Original Song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).
Won: Best Original Song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).
Runtime: 121 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout, some drug use and sexual content,)
Who should see it? Teenagers and adults who are interested in the story and music of Elton John.
Directed by Dexter Fletcher with a screenplay written by Lee Hall, Rocketman is a musical biographical picture which details the highs and lows of Elton John's upbringing and rockstar career. Last year, Fletcher swooped in to complete production on Bohemian Rhapsody after director Bryan Singer was removed from the project, and the Queen biopic was championed by general audiences and the industry alike as it somehow managed to secure four Oscars, a Best Picture nomination, and a healthy box office haul against all odds. Those of you who read my BoRhap review and 2019 Oscar coverage are aware that I wasn't particularly fond of said film, so it's easy to see why I'd be concerned that Rocketman would be made in a similar generic musical biopic mold... Well, I'm DELIGHTED to say that's not the case!
Rocketman doesn't completely break the mold, but Fletcher's method of retelling Elton John's life story as a non-chronological, fantastical jukebox musical is a refreshing creative choice. Many of John's greatest hits are included to relay major life events rather than serve purely as the basis for staged concert recreations. Though the narrative's thoroughly grounded in the tragic elements of Elton John's various additions, the dreamlike musical numbers carry an over the top bravado befitting of the exuberant musician. Fletcher alternates between dramatic reality and psychedelic song and dance numbers with relative ease and assuredness, so the switches flow naturally within the narrative.
Screenwriter Lee Hall frames the events as unreliable recollections from John during an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in rehab. Though Elton admits to being an alcoholic, drug and sex addict, shopaholic, narcissistic, and a tad temperamental, he withholds key details about his life from the support group and presents a glitzy version of his experiences which are soon revealed to be a facade for the audience. As Elton reminisces on the life and upbringing of Reginald Dwight (his birth name), the story shown doesn't always align with his spoken iteration, but the production doesn't skimp on sharing the darker details of the pop star's life. The truth of it all may up for debate (especially considering the fantastical nature of the musical numbers), but I believe Fletcher and Hall crafted an honest, harrowing portrait of the ups and downs of Elton John's breakthrough years. Fortunately, Elton John served as an executive producer on the project, so he endorsed the film's depiction of said events through his substantial involvement.
Nevertheless, the script still falls into the rut of exploring tired genre clichés and breezing by some pivotal moments in the musician's memoir. Though the technical execution compensates for these shortcomings, as colorful costuming, vibrant production design, inspired choreography, and a committed cast helps Rocketman maintain its upbeat vitality.
Front and center, Taron Egerton encapsulates the Elton John persona to a tee, voice and all. Egerton easily could have sunk into an exaggerated caricature of Elton, but the rising actor wholeheartedly throws himself into the role. Egerton replicates John's disposition and mannerisms but also imbues the necessary nuance to avoid an impressionistic portrayal. Taron Egerton ironically sang an Elton tune as a talking gorilla in the animated jukebox musical Sing ("I'm Still Standing" is reprised here) and recently starred alongside Elton John in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, so it'd seem he was fated to take on this part. Thankfully, he's got the pipes for it, and he echoes Elton's vocals to great effect!
Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard depict prominent individuals in Elton's life as his respective lyricist and best friend Bernie Taupin, manager and former flame John Reid, and wishy-washy mother, Sheila. Bell's a kindred spirit while Madden accentuates Reid's manipulative, cruel qualities, with Howard fluctuating in-between.
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