Review of Rocketman (2019) by Moosediver — 09 Jun 2019

Rocketman is an Elton John biopic and so much more. Ultimately it is a story of redemption and how therapy can help someone on that journey. Weirdly, this movie spoke directly to me, it pierced my heart and at times it was uncomfortable to watch. Because if you strip away all the trappings and all the crazy Elton Johnness you are left with a human battling to find himself and that is in essence what we are all trying to do isn’t it? Some more successfully than others, some further down the line than others and of course some never make it. We just don’t all get chance to do it with a kickass soundtrack! Rocketman never loses sight of this journey. It puts it front an centre and anchors it with regular returns to a generic AA session that ultimately provides the framework for Elton to find himself and then forgive him.

Despite how personally I felt this movie, it was some of the set pieces that carried emotional weight. The beginnings of Your Song & the first gig, Crocodile Rocking at the Troubadour, that literally and figuratively signified take off were transcendent. Ultimately this film will forever be aligned with Bohemian Rhapsody because of the similarities of subject and the closeness of their releases. But where as Bohemian Rhapsody was pretty formulaic, chronological storytelling, Rocketman, in its vision, production and chutzpah is transcendent. If you only have to see one of these movies then see Rocketman. Fortunately, none of us have to make that choice and we can enjoy both. But I’m struck that where Rami Malek won the Oscar the bolder portrayal of a rock legend is Egertons. Taron Egerton & Jamie Bell are balls out great!

Watch this movie now!

For Elton we’re just joyous moments of cinema.