Rocketman
2019 · Directed by Dexter Fletcher
Original language: English
- music
- drama
The story
The story of Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
What it’s like
Saturated, theatrical colour sets the tone from the first frame: stage-lit reds, gold and electric blue, with fantasy sequences that break into full choreographed production numbers, bodies spilling across hotel corridors and swimming pools in glittering costume. Between the spectacle, the camera tightens into handheld closeups in dim rooms, smoke and mirrors and the cold blue of late-night hotel suites, while the soundtrack is built on big 1970s pop-rock arrangements sung live by the cast. The rhythm is brisk and emotional, swinging from euphoric crowd-roar to quiet, bruised moments of loneliness and addiction. Intensity is moderate: drug and alcohol use is shown directly and some scenes of a chaotic, self-destructive lifestyle are frank, with brief sexual content and some harsh arguments, but there is no graphic violence. The vibe is flamboyant, sad and warm at once, suited to a big-screen night out or a late-evening watch. It suits people who love musicals and jukebox biopics, and who want a bittersweet story of a lonely man slowly learning to accept himself and the people who love him.
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