Well Worth A Watch

Rating: 6/10 (22 May 2019)

Rocketman
I really liked this movie, on the whole the dramatic impetus was supplied by Elton's chronology mirrored in the songs that were written at roughly the same time. It was quirky, inventive and showed an aspect of Elton, the national treasure.
What was good,
1, the music was fabulous and Taron Edgerton did a fine job, he really tried to reproduce both Elton's style and range.
2, the ensemble playing was strong throughout and they seemed to gel well. I really liked the boss of the record company.
3, the staged set pieces were brilliantly realised.
What was not so good:
1, it was never really explained why Elton's father rejected him, it inferred he was scarred by the war and left incapable of demonstrative behaviour or any depth of affection. And yet later in the movie he is a changed man, was he just a homophobe?
2, there were several weak spots, I will detail two, when the song Saturday Night.. came on it seemed just shoe-horned into the movie, as happened in Mama Mia, it was just too contrived. The second was the gathering of family in the therapy group, if this was an epiphany moment it fell way short.
3, the need to have flashbacks from a rehab group was just an unnecessary device and just did not work because he did not interact with the group in any real way.
This was a great movie, certainly one for the fans, it won't win an Oscar but it was a jolly good night out.