Rocketman Review
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
A flamboyant, haunting, passionate and humorous musical about the legend that is Elton John. This film captures Elton at his most lowest point, with him starting out at a rehab centre dressed in a red all-in-one with horns and feathers sticking out and lets not forget his signature platforms and funky glasses. Addressing all the problems he has faced in his life at that point including drug and sex addiction, being a alcoholic and shopaholic and coping with bulimia and anger issues, we experience flashbacks throughout his life from when he was a child to his 30s/40s.
Taron Egerton was the perfect actor for conveying Elton’s most deepest feelings and mannerisms and using the most powerful tool of all which is his voice. Taron is truly a great singer and ironically auditioned for RADA (drama school) singing an Elton John song.
The director Dexter Fletcher, captured each moment in Elton's life beautifully showing the pain he suffered to his theatrical costumes and power of being intimidating contrasting with his vulnerability. The main cause for why he was so damaged is by that powerful emotion that we call love. This theme features heavily having never experienced it from parents, or relationships he uses clothing, drugs, the changing of his name from Reginald Dwight to Elton John to strip down himself to being someone new. To put it bluntly he hated himself.
Elton had a tricky relationship with his parents, who were terrifically played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh. His father left him when he was young and Elton described his mother as a “selfish monster”.
Another toxic relationship was with his former manager and partner John Reid who treated him terribly and Richard Madden portrayed the devil that he is very well. This contrasts with the only positive relationship he had up to that point and that was his good, loyal and compassionate friend Bernie Taupin played by Jamie Bell. Taupin wrote the lyrics whilst Elton wrote the music and they are still friends to this day. Having a musical setting (which is very much part of Elton's personality), we hear many of his and Bernie’s legendary songs, such as ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', 'Crocodile Rock' and many more. However, the big one that was their first huge hit was ‘Your Song’. This was captured beautifully and you can tell on screen the magic in Elton and Bernie's eyes when Elton started to first play it.
We gradually see Elton unmasking his mask inbetween flashbacks and creating a full circle of accepting and loving himself again by hugging his child version at the end in toned down clothing symbolising himself being reborn. Rising up again as the Rocketman he is and ending on a classic favourite 'I’m Still Standing'.
Elton had a tricky relationship with his parents, who were terrifically played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh. His father left him when he was young and Elton described his mother as a “selfish monster”.
Another toxic relationship was with his former manager and partner John Reid who treated him terribly and Richard Madden portrayed the devil that he is very well. This contrasts with the only positive relationship he had up to that point and that was his good, loyal and compassionate friend Bernie Taupin played by Jamie Bell. Taupin wrote the lyrics whilst Elton wrote the music and they are still friends to this day. Having a musical setting (which is very much part of Elton's personality), we hear many of his and Bernie’s legendary songs, such as ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', 'Crocodile Rock' and many more. However, the big one that was their first huge hit was ‘Your Song’. This was captured beautifully and you can tell on screen the magic in Elton and Bernie's eyes when Elton started to first play it.
We gradually see Elton unmasking his mask inbetween flashbacks and creating a full circle of accepting and loving himself again by hugging his child version at the end in toned down clothing symbolising himself being reborn. Rising up again as the Rocketman he is and ending on a classic favourite 'I’m Still Standing'.
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