I love the movie and this is coming from someone who absolutely hated it the first time I saw it. It took me about 4 viewings until I finally warmed up to what they were trying to do. I'll admit there is about a 15-20 minute span during his drug induced spiral downward where I was saying alright already, I get it. But the last 20 minutes or so with his walking out of MSG to the confrontation with everyone during the therapy session to Bernie's visit t to the final I'm Still Standing recreation is just phenomenal. The movie has a lot of great moments and also some moments that fell flat for me but it's mostly a very good movie. It's a crime that it was not even nominated for costume design award or that Taron Egerton did not at least get an acting nomination. I think Elton getting the best original song Oscar was kind of a consolation prize for the movie even though the song was probably the best of the nominated ones anyway.
Very good point. He always comes across very well in his interviews. I recently watched an interview from 1980 on the Phil Donahue show. On the timeline he's in the middle of his addiction period, but comes off as totally in control. My review of the film - It was "ok". I didn't read any reviews or have any previews before I watched it. It did remind me of a Broadway/West End Biopic Musical overall a la "Beautiful (Carol King)" or "Motown The Musical". I really enjoyed the new song "I'm Gonna Love Me Again" and felt that it was his best rock n roll song in quite some time.
I wish I’d have liked it more than I did. Don’t think I can stomach watching it again. I can’t even feel sympathy for Elton because he was behind this from the start!
Technically the movie was very well done, but I could see "I'm Still Standing" as the "big closer" from the start. I would probably enjoy this production (and time shifting script) on the stage if I saw it. Likewise...uh...I did want to yell "NOT CROCODILE ROCK" during the Troubadour scene. The 3 piece 1970-1 (Elton, Nigel, & Dee) was so great that it was a disservice to use that song. I would have felt a recreation of "Take Me To The Pilot" would have been better.
Given the bizarre timeline of the movie, you’re lucky Elton didn’t sing Looking Up during the Troubadour scene.
Still play the soundtrack in the car on a regular basis. It really stands (if you like Elt, that is).
I noticed that slip as well. On the other hand we watched this last night. Thought it was very good, and one I wish I had seen on the big screen.
I watched the first half of Rocketman last night on Amazon Prime. I'm not sure whether I will finish watching it. I hadn't read much about the film going in (hadn't even looked at this thread before), so I was taken aback by the use of songs during scenes from different time periods. I get that this is not a documentary, but it would seem that most Elton John fans would immediately notice the timeline inaccuracies. For that reason alone, the film failed because one of the common characteristics of successful films is that they draw you into their stories and don't leave you sitting in your chair thinking about what's wrong with what you're watching. Apart from that, as a film it just isn't that interesting. The comparison to Mamma Mia is spot on. It's a campy, over-long music video with little depth. The only relationship during the first hour that has some genuineness is between Elton and Bernie, and even that's only evident in a few short scenes. Most of it just seems amateurish and cliche. I'm surprised this script got approved; it's difficult to fault the actors when the material they are given is just so poorly conceived.
I FINALLY watched Rocketman while stuck on an American Airlines plane with no Internet. It was entertaining. But the flights of fancy (people rising from the floor, etc.) didn't do much for me. The bigger problem was the huge liberties they took with the timeline and with the music and when it would actually have come out. I see John Reid breaking up the Kiki Dee tracking session and I'm wondering "did it take until 1976 until he came back? Or Elton tracking Victim of Love as he met Renate Blauel, the woman he married The story is strong enough as it is, and there's enough strong music from almost every era not to have to pull things from earlier/later. I don't get the point. I did like the Elton-in-therapy device that wrapped the film.
does anyone here know how much "sweetening" on Taron Egerton voice was ? a lot ? its an interesting soundtrack . the film was ok but was just a bit over the top!
I totally think that is the intent. If the movie had done better and if not for covid, it may already have been in production for the stage.
When I finally saw Rocketman on cable last year I couldn't help but think how much better recent films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Blinded By the Light were in comparison. For me for such an exciting person the movie they created out of Elton's life was just so darn boring and completely void of emotion. Even when he's almost drowning at the bottom of the pool it looks so stupid and I can't help not to care. I love Elton but his movie blows.
He's Welsh. Of course he can sing! Those worrying about timelines and what songs should be played when are missing the point completely. And you are told this right at the start when he is about 12 and playing in the pub.
I liked Blinded by the Light. However I would say Rocket Man is way ahead of the pedestrian Bohemian Rhapsody, which has much worse contrived moments. I found Rocket Man a visual joy and a pretty original telling of a well known story.
