Review of Rocketman (2019) by Shpostal — 01 Jun 2019

I love music but I hate musicals. Always have. So "Rocketman" on that level does nothing for me. Let's look at the problem with a film that tries to be a bio but insists on inserting the usual "musical" interludes with big productions, seemingly coming out of nowhere, bad edits of some of rock's greatest songs of all time, and next to no real focus on John's and Taupin's songs as far as inspiration, the story behind some of the songs, and again poor editing that cuts some of the songs in the worst possible places.

The other problem as a musician myself is how the film's directors and Elton himself as Executive Producer saw fit to totally ignore his band of those glory years, not even mentioning them by name.

So I will. Where is Davey Johnstone, Elton's superb guitarist, who contributed the tough edge of the music and great rhythm work on John's remake of The Who's "Pinball Wizard" or the furious guitar on "The **** Is Back"? No mention of him, bassist Dee Murray or drummer Nigel Ollson.

Not a very nice thing to do to a faithful band if you ask me. The attention given Bernie Taupin was certainly important because he was and for all I know is a gifted lyricist who had a knack for putting into words a lot of the angst, personal strife and emotions of John's life.

And the forays into fantastical episodes such as the scene in L.A.'s legendary Troubadour Lounge where Elton John made his first U.S. appearance and featured part of "Crocodile Rock" and everybody on the floor floating around I found overblown and silly.

What those scenes were trying to do was to mythologize the man to ridiculous degrees. He was already a mythological figure without resorting to unnecessary production numbers that only slowed the story down.

But not all is lost. When the film stays focused on the real life and times of Elton John from childhood to superstardom, Taron Egerton does a great job as John. He indeed does a good job singing, although I would have preferred Elton's own vocals, as was the case with "Bohemian Rhapsody" and just some straight numbers without the song and dance routine.

Like so many other icons in the entertainment industry, who are surrounded by sycophants, money grubbing thieves and hangers on all leaching the blood out of said performer, Elton John too suffered from the usual drug and alcohol addictions, struggled with his homosexuality at a time when it was indeed risky to step out and declare himself gay.

All in all, if you like the musical format you'll find this a better film than I did, but it isn't bad by any stretch. It just irks me that the band itself was totally left out of the film. Of course Elton is sober now and has been 28 years, good for him.

He and his husband have been together for a very long time and he has donated $450 million dollars to HIV/AIDS research worldwide. That is a lot of money and Sir Elton is to be commended. An up and down bio-pic aside, Elton John was one of the great rock and roll performers in history, wrote some of the most beautiful music ever created in a pop setting "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" my favorite tune of his that is on a par with timeless classics of anything by the Beatles, and even tunes that will always be with us like "Over The Rainbow" or "When You Wish Upon A Star", which were enormously popular tunes in their day and rightfully so.

Sometimes the world gets lucky and perfect or near perfect music is bestowed upon us destined to last forever, like some of the classical bits Elton practiced as a youth.