Review of Rocketman (2019) by Jakeshiloh — 31 May 2019

Where's the band??? Guitarist Davey Johnstone, Drummer Nigel Olsson, Percussionist Ray Cooper, etc. --- guys who have toured with Elton for more than 40 years are quite literally non-existent. The director seems to go out of his way NOT to show Elton with his band.

One gets that Rocketman is a self-obsessed, self-portrait and isn't primarily about the making of music. Nevertheless, you would think that anyone important in Elton's life during that period would (at least ) appear in a cameo of sorts.

Yet throughout the 2-hour Rocketman film we catch not a word from --- nor even a glimpse of --- a recognizable band member. Instead Elton is occasionally seen solo at the piano, or more often on his feet surrounded by a motley cast of dancers, looking very un-Eltonlike.

Sadly, one is left with the impression that the band means nothing to Elton. Nor does Elton ever seem to have any connection to his audience.