Elton John Gets the Great Film He Deserves

Rating: 10/10 (5 June 2019)

If you're tired of formulaic, paint-by-the-numbers musical biopics, then look no further: "Rocketman" is here to come to the rescue. This outstanding biopic blew me away by managing to both inform the viewer about the ups and downs of John's life in a wholly engaging and all-encompassing manner, yet also entertaining the viewer through absolutely dazzling musical scenes that manage to make the most of both the lyrics and subtext of John's lyrics.
Unlike some other entries in the musical biopic genre, "Rocketman" manages to not only fully develop Elton John as a character, but also those around him. Bernie Taupin as well as Elton's parents make fascinating supporting characters with far more depth and complexity than supporting characters in similar films. The acting in the film is superb across the board, and Taron Edgerton truly knocks it out of the park as Elton. He displays an astonishing range and stays in total control of both the film's narrative and his music. Unlike many other similar performances, such as Rami Malek in "Bohemian Rhapsody," he does all the singing here as well, and he manages to nail that too! The film's music numbers are all unique and complement each other. They're well-choreographed and manage to be both escapist and substantial to the progression of the film's narrative and such associated plot structure. The film refreshingly doesn't sanitize neither Elton John's struggles with vices nor his identity as a gay man, unlike the watered-down content in the (PG-13) "Bohemian Rhapsody." This edge helps the viewer more fully understand the struggles that Elton went through in his life, and allows us to further empathize towards his character on screen. The film's production design is incredibly strong, combining both flashy costumes with understated British elegance and class--sometimes even in the same scene, in the case of the music numbers. I won't give away how the film does this, but I was also surprised by just how emotionally impactful it gets, as well as how the narrative truly feels like it builds up to a true crescendo. I think it's gonna be a long, long time before Elton John is honored again in a manner as unique as this film. 10/10