Tortured genius

Rating: 9/10 (17 April 2020)

I reckon biopics for actors performing in the central role must be both exhilarating and terrifying - get it right and you'll be applauded by fans of the person you're portraying the world over; get it wrong though and you'll feel something of a failure and will feel disappointed that you haven't done justice to the person you're portraying. I can imagine Taron Egerton must have been nervous taking on the role of such an iconic singer, but in retrospect Egerton really had nothing to worry about...
I think the best way for an actor to convince in this type of role is by way of 'absorbing' i.e they pretty much become the person that they are portraying. Forest Whittaker did this in The Last King of Scotland as did Will Smith (to a slightly lesser extent) in Ali. Egerton also absorbs and with a career as turbulent as Elton John's earlier career it gives Egerton plenty of scope to showcase his immense talents. What's really impressive about Egerton's performance is that he not only convinces in the acting stakes (when taking us through Elton's high and low career points), but his singing is also really good - OK he's no Elton John, but his voice is really good and his flamboyance and showmanship are very reminiscent of the man himself.
Of course the picture isn't just about Egerton (although truth be told he is the main reason this film is as good as it is) the supporting cast are also good; the likes of Richard Madden as Elton's despicable manager and Jamie Bell as Elton's long-term writing partner Bernie Taupin are both excellent; Madden particularly so as at times he comes close to giving Egerton a run for his money albeit in a more low-key snivelling manner. These 2 men are sort of the catalysts of the picture who effectively bring out the best and worst in Elton John himself.
Structurally, the film is also good as it gives brief snippets of Elton John's life and career at various stages in his life; from childhood through to around his late 20's/early 30's at a guess. I think what really makes Rocketman work so well is that it focuses its attention on Elton's career and the fact it focuses on his childhood to his rise to stardom makes it an interesting journey (there are no dumb or pointless sub-plots making this possibly one of the most focused films that I've seen). The film is also energetic, fast-paced and the musical numbers are colourful and lively (as indeed are some of the set-pieces that accompany them). Rocketman really was a joy to watch with never a dull moment clouding any aspect of the picture.
Simply put it's one of the best biopics/musicals I've seen in quite some time and Egerton's performance is outstanding and, on the back of this performance, I suspect a long career in film is pretty much a certainty for Egerton.