Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell, Gemma Jones, Matthew Illesley, Kit Connor, Bryce Dallas Howard
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Release date: 22nd May 2019
The story begins in a re-hab meeting.. Elton (Taron Egerton) is there talking about his past to a group of fellow addicts. Next thing you know, we are transported back in time to a young boy named Reg Dwight who lives with his parents and Nan in Pinner. He desperately wants the love of his dad but his dad is distant and cold. His Nan encourages him and he finds he has a natural way with a piano. They decide to get him lessons and eventually when he is a bit older, he is offered a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Things are not great at home though and eventually his dad leaves… This is the start of a long journey for Reggie Dwight, who will eventually change his name and become Elton John…
‘Rocketman’ is a musical biopic which tells the story of the life of music star, Elton John. Elton, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947 has worked together with songwriter, Bernie Taupin since back in 1967 after they met through an ad placed in the NME looking for songwriters. The record company put them together and the rest is history. Elton John has sold an incredible 300million records and has had seven consecutive No. 1 albums in the USA.
After the huge success of the Freddie Mercury biopic, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, it’d be understandable if the public are still in the mood for another sing-along foot tapper. This one though, as well as being a song-fest, covers Elton’s battles with drink, drugs, sex addiction and depression. Taron Egerton wasn’t the first choice for the role but it appears that he was the right one. He sings all the songs in the movie and manages to catch all the little nuances that make Elton John, Elton John.
It documents the highs and lows of Elton’s life and also the many people that helped shape him into the music icon we know today. An extremely driven individual, he knew from a young age that he had a gift and nothing was going to get in the way of his success.
If you love the songs of Elton John then it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will also love this new biopic. All the songs you know and love alongside a fascinating insight into the story behind one of British music’s rock legends. It would be very surprising if you come out of the movie without at least one of Elton’s songs stuck in your head. Go see it!
Overall: 9/10
