Dexter Fletcher
Rocketman

And after the (questionable) Biopic on the life of Freddie Mercury "Bohemian Rhapsody," which enjoyed considerable success both critically and publicly despite some critiques over the overly good-natured portrayal of the unfortunately former frontman of Queen, another Biopic arrives on another legend of world music. "RocketMan" retraces the life of his majesty Sir Elton John, from his childhood up to the mid-'80s, focusing mainly on his excesses and all the consequences they brought, such as the famous suicide attempt two days before the legendary concert at Dodgers Stadium in 1975 or his relationships with those close to him, primarily his historical author Bernie Taupin. RocketMan is halfway between an all-out musical and a more traditional biopic, and it is commendable how, in most cases, the sung sections serve to understand Mr. Showman's internal problems, his fears, and his feelings through scenes I dare say surreal, such as the adult Elton dialoguing with the child Elton of the past. Faced with a historical accuracy that is not exactly faithful, alternating between events that actually took place and pure "script licenses," the film is never boring and has a fairly fluid rhythm that allows the two-hour duration to pass quite easily. The legendary singer-songwriter is played by the brilliant Taron Egerton, whose performance is by far the best thing in the film, earning him a Golden Globe win. The actor manages to give good depth to the character, is extremely expressive, and I would like to point out that he personally sang the different songs present in the film. And speaking of the songs, those deserve an honorable mention. The greatest masterpieces composed by the John/Taupin duo are reprised here in a more orchestral and cinematic guise and do not lose a bit of shine or value compared to the original compositions... In addition, Egerton ventures into this field obtaining very good results, especially in the slower songs. In the opinion of the writer, "Tiny Dancer," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Rocket Man" itself are the three highest points of the entire film soundtrack. Of course, it's not a perfect film. It has its flaws, such as an ending that is perhaps slightly too sentimental or some crucial passages of Elton's life dealt with in an overly fast manner, but they don't detract too much from what is a decidedly solid entertainment product.

Unlike the Biopic on Queen, this one proves to be more raw and direct, and John himself insisted that the worst periods of his life (like alcoholism and drug addiction) be shown in an extremely explicit manner (I should note that the film was rated R). A stylistic choice that I personally appreciated greatly.

While waiting for the Biopic on another legend of English music, namely the good David Bowie, this "RocketMan" represents a good entertainment product both for fans of the legendary Showman (who will have no trouble finding significant gems) and for those who have never listened to "Your Song" or "The Bitch is Back."