"When are you going to hug me?"
If you’re looking for a cheerful time at the cinema to sing-along to some classic pop rock songs for 2 hours, then this is not the film for you. Rocketman serves not so much as a light-hearted visit to the cinema as it does a heartbreaking journey through the trials and tribulations of the life and career of the dejected superstar, Elton John. We open with Elton, played by Taron Egerton, dressed in a flamboyant orange outfit (with horns and wings, no less) parading straight into a self-help group, where he boldly declares himself to be an alcoholic, drug addict, sex addict, and bulimic, among others. This sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the film, because Elton John did not want us to accept the glitz and glam of his musical world; he wanted us to know exactly how painful it all was for him.
This film is flamboyant and eccentric and camp and larger-than-life and everything you’d expect from a film about Elton John. It explodes onto the screen in dazzling technicolour, almost as unconventionally as the man himself. This film was directed by Dexter Fletcher, the man who saved ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ after director Bryan Singer was fired, and it becomes quickly clear that his passion and obvious enthusiasm for bringing to life a musical story was not lost here. This film felt on occasion more like a full-blown musical than a biopic, but that unusual form of storytelling made perfect sense, considering exactly who the subject matter was. In actual fact, the way that Fletcher made use of Elton’s songs to help propel the story’s narrative forwards was extremely effective as it helped to really communicate what was going on at that point in his life.
Taron Egerton’s portrayal of Elton John was nothing short of Oscar-worthy, in-fact he dissolved entirely into the role. There were some moments where I found myself unsure if they were scenes from the film or just archived footage entirely. He managed to earnestly convey not only the breathtaking confidence and individuality that Elton was so readily associated with, but also the painful modesty behind his persona. Not only was Taron Egerton’s performance a career best, but there was also an array of brilliant supporting characters. Whether it was the loyal lyricist Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), the charmingly sexy manager (Richard Madden), his distant and narcissistic mother (Bryce Dallas Howard) or finally his ever-supportive and doting Grandmother (Gemma Jones), everyone in this film gave powerhouse performances, no matter how small.
Rocketman was everything that Bohemian Rhapsody wishes it was, and Elton John’s involvement in the film ensured that there was no stone left unturned, and quite sincerely he didn’t paint himself in a very good light, ditching the favourable insight for instead a more candid look at his troubled life. Whilst the Queen biopic also saw the protagonist battling with his sexuality and gravitating towards self-destructive behaviour, the PG-13 rating it secured in the United States meant that it was a very shallow look at a very deep life. Rocketman, however, was the exact opposite. The R-rated feature allowed for a much grittier and subsequently more truthful story, with a much more freeing perception into the sex & drugs & rock & roll lifestyle that Elton John led.
At its heart, this film is about a young boy who just wants to be loved, and the film doesn’t let you forget that this message is at the core, driving the narrative forwards. While the blatantly exuberant nature behind the feature sometimes felt more suited for a stage than the big screen, it was a constant and extravagant reminder of exactly who Elton John is and did not waste any time holding back.