ROCKETMAN – A Review by Cynthia Flores
If you’re going to do a biography about one of the greatest performers in rock and roll such as Sir Elton John then, of course, it’s got to be bigger than life. No standard drama or reenactment will do no matter how good the lead is at looking and sounding just like the man. Of course, it’s gotta be a musical. Right?
Well, that’s how the makers of this new film Rocketman decided to tell the real-life story of Sir Elton John played brilliantly by Taron Egerton. So, if you were hoping for a straight (pardon the pun) take on his life story such as last year’s biopic of Freddie Mercury in the award-winning Bohemian Rhapsody from the previous year then you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you’re a fan of his music or want to be one and enjoy Broadway-style musicals, then this is the movie for you.
The film starts with Elton John storming into a rehab center dressed as a bejeweled devil with big red wings. It’s a costume for his stage act that he has walked away from to get clean and sober. Elton knows if he does not change now, he’ll die from the excess. It is in that therapy room that we are taken through his life from the time he was five years old to the day he walked away from sold-out crowds to get help. That would seem like a lot of ground to cover, and it is, but with the use of the iconic songs he wrote with his musical partner Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) we move along smoothly. We see young Reginald Kenneth Dwight (that was Elton’s real name) being raised by a cold and unloving father named Stanley (Steven Mackintosh) and a distant mother called Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard). The only kind one to him was his Grandmother Ivy (Gemma Jones). She is the one that saw his talent at the piano and encouraged him to pursue music. Once he found his true gift for song, well the rest, as they say, is history.
Rocketman is a great musical, and the words of Bernie Taupin are really brought to life by being showcased here. If you are an Elton fan, then you can’t help but fall in love with their music all over again. If you’re too young to remember Elton at his height of fame, then you are in for a real treat experiencing their music in this way. It’s slowed down a bit, and you can really feel the pain and longing behind some of their hits. The soundtrack to this film will be a must-have this summer.
Rocketman is not as great a drama as it could have been. I’m not saying it’s terrible, so don’t start sending those hate emails just yet. What I am saying is that the way the director chose to move the film along it never let me settle into the real tragedy that was Elton’s life and times. Just when I would get invested in the emotion, we would break into another song and dance number. It was like a cop telling a crowd, “Keep it moving, keep it moving there’s nothing to see here, folks. Keep moving!”
Because the music is fantastic and I really liked Taron Egerton’s portrayal and actual singing of Elton John’s music, I give this big bright film an A- rating. Definitely worth seeing on the big screen.
Directed By Dexter Fletcher
Written By Lee Hall
Rated R
Selig Rating A-
Running Time 2hr 1min
Musical Biography
Wide Release May 31st
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Steven Mackintosh, Matthew Illesley
The Selig Rating Scale:
A – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
B – Good movie
C – OK movie
D – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
F – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
