Rocketman – Movie Review

We are living in the age of “Biopics” and we as an audience cannot shy away from that. Rocketman, a movie on the life of Sir Elton John however, brands itself as a musical fantasy and firmly owns its ground to present a truly gratifying experience. The movie depicts the earlier part of Elton John’s life as a human story rather than only a true to fact biopic of a legendary rock and pop musician. At its very core, the movie is about the life of a survivor and a celebration of life itself.

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As Rocketman begins, Elton John now in his 30s, is in therapy battling alcohol, drug and sex addiction and recollects his childhood, youth and rise to fame. It’s hard not to feel a deep sense of earnestness in the story told from the point of view of Elton John. While the world was flocking around him in awe of his music and fame, Elton John was at his worst; feeling extremely lonely and hiding behind his addictions. His entire world view emanated from a childhood spent in a house where his parents felt pure contempt and disdain for each other, where he yearned for the affection of a father who was incapable of loving him and where his maternal grandmother was the one sense of solace. Even as he went through his youth a musical prodigy, Elton was always looking for a human connection to make him feel loved forever. When his being a homosexual was thrown in the mix, things only get tougher for him. Soon enough, fame with all its demons hits him! How he survives those demons and finds his sense of self is the rest of the story.

Even with a run time of 125 minutes, Rocketman maintains a high momentum by embracing the style of a musical fantasy. Elton John’s upbeat and soulful numbers are used not to fit the factual timeline but as a jukebox of songs placed in moments to better depict the emotions of a scene. The lyrics of every song used in the movie seamlessly drives the narrative; whether it be a scene to show how his family never saw eye to eye or a scene of perceived rejection by his friend and collaborator Bernie Taupin. Elton John truly believes his life to be a fantasy and the movie offers several shots to tie in the surrealness, added with flamboyant costumes and exaggerated energy. If Elton John felt high on substances, so should you.

The movie has undoubtedly been shouldered in its entirety by the lovely Taron Edgerton, who not only plays Elton John but also sings the songs himself. Songs in an original voice makes a world of a difference to a musical and this movie does not compromise. Taron Edgerton looking deceptively similar to a young Elton John is just the first of many reasons the casting was perfect for the movie. He imbues an unabashed spirit that contributes to the earnestness of the story and makes for a delightful viewing experience. The rest of the cast are also at par, never letting us break away from the experience of a musical.

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The biggest takeaway from Rocketman has been that success, fame and everything on the outside is seldom an indicator of a person’s internal equanimity or strife. Each person who is able to conquer internal struggles head on is a survivor and a success story. This movie is as much about you and me as it is about Elton John. A human story as relevant as time.

Rating – 4/5 | Grade – A

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