Written by: Leo Costello
Elton John dazzled audiences everywhere this summer with his film, “Rocketman” (2019) directed by Dexter Fletcher. After the hype of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) directed by Bryan Singer, many people were excited about another ‘70s music biopic. Taron Egerton starred as Elton John and provided his singing voice for the soundtrack of this film. The entire soundtrack is a reproduction of many of John’s original works, including one new release. “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” sung by both John and Egerton, was written and recorded specifically for this film.
“Rocketman” starts off with John entering rehab, and he recounts many stories of his life to a support group, beginning with his childhood and ending in 1990 when he left rehab.
While this film was called a “fantasy,” many of the events in the film actually happened and were handled quite respectfully by everyone involved in the film. John going to rehab could have easily been portrayed negatively, but is in fact one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring and courageous moments of the film. The costume shots as he walks into rehab alongside music producer Giles Martin’s rendition of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” make for a powerful, tear-jerking moment.
Egerton’s performance was spectacular throughout the film, creating many emotional moments for fans, especially those in the LGBT+ community, to sympathize with. The ‘70s and ‘80s were not easy times for gay men, and John was no exception.
A concern going into the film was how well they would portray John’s relationships, but Fletcher, Egerton and Richard Madden who played John Reid, all pulled through. Reid was John’s first boyfriend of five years (1970-75) and his manager until 1998. Their relationship, while destructive, was refreshing to see in a major box office film on the big screen. After years of big film companies creating heterosexual film after heterosexual film, “Rocketman” was a breath of fresh air in cinemas. Not only that, but it was a huge step for LGBT+ cinema.
As opposed to other music biopics, “Rocketman” uses John’s music to tell the story, rather than simply showing the actors performing it. The film opens with an exciting rendition of “The Bitch is Back,” sung by Egerton and Matthew Illesley as a young John, or Reggie Dwight, as he was known then. While some songs are performed, such as “Pinball Wizard,” most are used to help narrate the story, which worked incredibly well for this film and John’s story.
Not only was the music incredible, but the costuming was as well. Some might recognize the name Julian Day, who did the beautiful costumes for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Day struck again with this film and made Egerton shine as John, often quite literally. The costumes, when placed side by side with photos of John himself, were incredibly accurate and simply beautiful.
The first shot of the film is John entering rehab dressed in a large, sparkly, bright orange costume that seems to be a cross between an angel and a demon. Later on in the film, we get the stunning closeup shots of this costume while “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” instrumentals are heard. Despite any differences the costumes may have had, Day’s talent and attention to detail must be commended.
“Rocketman” was truly a spectacle of a film. Fletcher created a beautiful piece of art with a remarkable cast and crew. Egerton and Madden had wonderful chemistry and both played their part beautifully well. This film brought tears, laughter, sadness and excitement. John put his faith into Fletcher and his crew and they certainly did not disappoint. Final score: 10/10.
