“When are you going to hug me?”
Fame, fortune, the admiration of millions. These are things most people dream of having in their lifetime, with the expectation that their presence will alleviate any problems or worries they have, replacing struggle with unending happiness and satisfaction. It may be a hard pill to swallow for the average person, particularly in these current times, but as ample evidence has shown, access to wealth and notoriety can only exacerbate underlying issues that existed before you gained these material trappings. Rocketman, the story of Sir Elton John’s rise to stardom and the corresponding heartbreak and substance abuse problems, is the latest documentation of the old adage “All that glitters isn’t gold,” taking us on the journey from his troubled childhood to his achievement of greatness.
A man goes to the doctor, stating that he’s depressed. The man declares that life is harsh and cruel and he feels all alone in a threatening world. The doctor suggests that to treat the man’s ‘mental condition, he go see the great clown Pagliacci, who is in town to perform. Seeing the accomplished comedian should pick him up, the doctor says. The man bursts into tears. He says, “But doctor, I am Pagliacci.” This famous joke perfectly encapsulates the story of Elton John that we are treated to onscreen; the tale of the sad clown, bring joy to all others while suffering alone through his own misery. It struck me one of the many times we witness Elton having just had a shouting match or emotional moment backstage, while in full over the top colorful costume, only to strut out in front of the crowd, wide grinned, ready to perform as the famed showman. Elton’s struggles can be attributed to his life-long feelings of being unloved when he was just Reginald Dwight, the progeny of an affectionless father who abandons the family only to start a new one complete with sons he does express love for, and a detached mother passively aggressive toward Elton’s sexuality and resentful toward him due to his father. The hole this leaves in Reggie not only contributes to his creation of Elton John, a prodigious musician loved by the world and a man who is what he wants to be instead of who he was born to be, but also leads him toward looking for love from the wrong people. It’s a familiar story and the results that we see Elton deal with are familiar as well, struggling to come to terms with his demons and tell the helpers in his life from those who just want to take advantage.
Rocketman is also a musical biopic in the truest sense of the description, with sweeping musical numbers featuring the actors’ real singing voices and well-crafted dance choreography that aren’t just interludes from the film, but also serve to advance the story themselves and impart upon the audience the thoughts and emotions of the characters that are performing. Taron Egerton is required to do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of voice performance and he does more than a capable job as a singer, treating us to all of our favorite Elton John songs including my personal favorite, Tony Danza. It is through these musical numbers that some of the good camera work from director Dexter Fletcher comes through in the form of great scene transitions, varied angles and camera movement, and quality lighting and perspective. An underwater sequence in Elton’s pool stands out as one of the film’s best moments of cinematography, highlighting Elton’s emotional turmoil from his youth to his combustible fame completely told visually in a striking blue hued aquatic environment.
In addition to his performance singing in place of one of the most beloved singers the world has ever known, Taron Egerton puts in a transformative performance as the singing legend, disappearing into the role and not only covering the singing aspect, but fully imparting the emotional part of Elton’s story. Egerton communicates the full emotional spectrum of Elton’s story, from his need for love, to his slow spiral into drugs and alcohol, to his eventual reconciling of his past. Bryce Dallas Howard also shines as Elton’s mother, playing a Brit so convincing, that it took me a minute to figure out where I knew this actress from. Howard does well in portraying the subtle, psychological abuse and damage she inflicts upon Elton, juxtaposed to the more overt problems offered by his father. Jamie Bell performs capably as Elton’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, providing the stability and genuine love amidst the uncaring in his life. Bell is able to convey the concern and caring of a friend who sees someone they care for on the wrong path and not giving up on them.
Rocketman is a surreal musical fantasy that is enjoyable not just for Elton John fans, but fans of musicals, and biopics in general. The amount of care put into the film’s music was also put into its costume design with Julian Day impeccably recreating Elton’s vivid, classic 70s outfits piece by piece, as is highlighted in the closing credits showing side by sides of the actors and the real people they performed as. Taron Egerton shines as the lead in the film, executing both the musical performance aspects and the emotional punch that the story demands. Supporting actors such as Bryce Dallas Howard and Jamie Bell compliment him well. Rocketman is a film that is very entertaining in addition to having much to say thematically and in terms of its examination of its lead character.
Image: Paramount Pictures
