Rocketman – Film 2019
Rocketman is a 2019 biographical musical film based on the life of British musician Elton John. Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, it stars Taron Egerton as Elton John, with Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila Eileen. The film follows John in his early days in England as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his musical partnership with Taupin. The film is titled after John’s 1972 song “Rocket Man”.
The film had been in development since the 2000s before it was initially announced in 2013 where Focus Features acquired the rights to the film and director Michael Gracey and actor Tom Hardy were set to direct and star in the project respectively. After Hardy and Gracey left the project following creative differences between Focus and John that halted an initial production start in fall 2014, the project languished for several years until Paramount Pictures and New Republic Pictures took over as distributor in April 2018, where Egerton and Fletcher signed on. Principal photography began in August 2018 and was completed later that year. John served as executive producer, while husband David Furnish produced the film through their Rocket Pictures, alongside Matthew Vaughn’s Marv Films.
Rocketman premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2019, and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2019 and in the United States on 31 May 2019. It grossed $195 million worldwide against its $40 million budget and received largely positive reviews from critics, with general praise for Egerton’s performance, the costume design and musical numbers. The film was the first by a major film studio to include a gay male sex scene. For his performance, Egerton received numerous nominations, including the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The film also won Best Original Song at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, Best Song at the 25th Critics’ Choice Awards, and Best Original Song at the 92nd Academy Awards for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, and earned four nominations at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, including Outstanding British Film.
Dressed in a flamboyant devil’s outfit, Elton John enters an addiction rehabilitation session, recounting his life in a flashback (“The Bitch Is Back”).
Young Reginald Dwight grows up in 1950s Britain, raised by his unaffectionate mother, Sheila, and more loving grandmother Ivy. Reginald is interested in music and hopes to perform for his father, Stanley, who takes no interest in his son nor his talent (“I Want Love”).
Reginald begins piano lessons, making his way into the Royal Academy of Music. Stanley abandons his family after Sheila has an affair. Reginald develops an interest in rock music and begins performing in local pubs (“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”). As an adult, Reginald joins the band Bluesology, which is hired to play backup for touring American soul bands, The Isley Brothers and Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles. Isley Brothers lead singer, Ronald Isley, recommends that Reginald should write songs and put his old life behind him if he wants to become a famous artist. This inspires Reginald to change his name to Elton John. Elton being the name of the saxophonist of Bluesology and John being adapted from the Beatles’ John Lennon.
Elton begins writing music and tries finding success with Dick James’ record label DJM Records under the management of Ray Williams. Williams introduces Elton to lyricist Bernie Taupin; they form a friendship (“Border Song”) and move into a flat together to work on their songs. When Elton admits he is homosexual, he ends his romantic relationship with their landlady, and he and Bernie are evicted.
Elton begins writing music and tries finding success with Dick James’ record label DJM Records under the management of Ray Williams. Williams introduces Elton to lyricist Bernie Taupin; they form a friendship (“Border Song”) and move into a flat together to work on their songs. When Elton admits he is homosexual, he ends his romantic relationship with their landlady, and he and Bernie are evicted.
Elton and Bernie move in with Elton’s grandmother, his mother, and her significant other, where they continue writing and create “Your Song.” James sets up a performance for them at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Elton is nervous before his Troubadour debut, but the audience eagerly embraces his performance (“Crocodile Rock”). Elton is overjoyed by his success but feels abandoned when Bernie leaves him at a party to spend time with a woman (“Tiny Dancer”). He is approached by John Reid, a music manager. They sleep together and reunite later (“Take Me to the Pilot”).
Reid’s influence over Elton launches a downward spiral into a life of debauchery even as his career rises to new heights (“Hercules” / “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”). Elton develops a flamboyant, over-the-top stage persona and becomes one of the most successful artists of the 1970s (“Honky Cat”). Reid’s manipulation increases into outright abuse after becoming Elton’s manager. Reid insists that Elton come out to his parents as gay, so Elton reconnects with his father, who has a new family but still displays no interest in Elton. Unhappy and hurt, Elton calls his mother and tells her he is gay. She informs him that she already knew, but tells Elton he will be forever unloved. Struggling with parental issues as well as Reid’s increasing physical and emotional abuse, Elton becomes addicted to alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, shopping, and sex to escape his pain and loneliness, but his mood swings and short temper alienate his friends (“Pinball Wizard”).
Elton catches Reid cheating on him with another man and breaks off their relationship. During a party, he binges on drugs and alcohol and attempts suicide by jumping into his pool. He is rushed to the hospital, then thrust on stage at Dodger Stadium to perform (“Rocket Man”).
Elton descends further into a life of drugs, alcohol, and loneliness (“Bennie and the Jets”). He has a short-lived marriage with a close female friend, Renate, but his homosexuality dooms this relationship (“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”). He falls out with his mother and Bernie (“Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”). Elton’s dependence on prescription pills and alcohol result in a heart attack. Realizing his life is out of control, Elton seeks help (“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”). He enters rehabilitation and realises he no longer needs support from his parents or Reid. Elton rekindles his friendship with Bernie, who brings him new lyrics. Elton is worried that he cannot perform or compose without alcohol or drugs but writes “I’m Still Standing” and returns to a successful career.
The epilogue notes that Elton has been sober for over 28 years, but “still has issues with shopping.” He remains good friends with Bernie and is married to David Furnish, with whom he has two children, and is finally loved properly.
Cast
Taron Egerton as Elton John
Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin
Richard Madden as John Reid
Gemma Jones as Ivy, Elton’s grandmother
Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila Dwight
Stephen Graham as Dick James
Steven Mackintosh as Stanley Dwight
Tate Donovan as Doug Weston
Charlie Rowe as Ray Williams
Tom Bennett as Fred, Sheila’s boyfriend
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