Rocketman owes quite a debt of gratitude to a musical film that features famous tunes. No, not Bohemian Rhapsody, which made a gazillion dollars and won 4 Oscars. The film this movie owes a debt to is Across the Universe. But where Julie Taymor sought to tell an antiwar story, this is a biopic of the biggest level. Elton John is one of the world’s most iconic artists and its fitting that the movie is so out there. When Rocketman is being the big ass, gay ass musical extravaganza it appeared to be the movie is spectacular. The other scenes are…fine.
Rocketman tells the life story of Elton John, as Elton (Taron Egerton) has found himself in therapy and rehab. Clad in one of his many out there costumes, he introduces us to his life story. We see him go from humble young boy with a gift of a musical ear to young man hungry to play rock and roll to international superstar and addict. There’s stops to former managers, lovers, lovers who became managers in John Reed (a villainous turn from RIchard Madden), booze, pills, a fractured home…all set to the tunes of the singer’s incredible catalog.
The movie moves briskly through these various points in the singer’s life with a somewhat clunky dexterity. There are moments such as when we see Elton grow up in the midst of Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) when the full potential of the movie is on display. This movie elevates itself above regular jukebox musicals because it understands its subject and the music, leading to just some brilliant sequences. This is why it’s all the more jarring when the movie comes back down and tries to hit standard biopic moments with an Elton twist.
Framing the movie around an extended therapy session is…a choice, but the continuing need to revisit it as Elton is working through his issues halts the momentum of the film bit by bit. It’s especially sad beacuse the movie will feature a powerful sequence with his arrival at rehab that doesn’t have the same freshness it would have if we were constantly going back.
This movie however is as resilient as Elton’s body because of the sheer force of Taron Egerton’s performance. Taron is probably the only person who could have played this part, which relied on him singing and dancing as much as it relied on emoting. Taron gives it his all and even though he nails the rockstar moments, watching him in the quieter moments proved even more thrilling. Watching Taron’s eyes move as he’s trying to suss out whether he’s reading the right signs from John or his apology to Bernie, it’s just masterful work.
Rocketman desire to give into its excesses and honoring its subject make it a potent film and a welcome entry into the biopic canon.