The biopic Rocketman elegantly and metaphorically navigates its tired structure.
The new craze in Hollywood cinema seems to be biopics of bands and artists. With the success (more in terms of audience than critical acclaim) of Bohemian Rhapsody , another batch of biopics were commissioned. Rocketman , which tells the story of Elton John , is the best of this wave so far.
Interestingly, the film is directed by Dexter Fletcher , who took over directing the Queen after allegations of sexual abuse against Bryan Singer . Whether due to his involvement with the project from the beginning, or for some other reason, Fletcher does a much better job here.
The director perfectly captures all the exuberance (and kitsch, why not?) of Elton John. Right from the start, the film benefits from using the language of musicals to tell its story. Out of nowhere, in a dramatic scene, one of the characters, downcast, begins to sing about his feelings to the camera. Suddenly, everyone gets into the rhythm and dances in super-rehearsed choreography. It's cliché, and that's the charm. It's not just a biography about a musician. It's a musical biography about a musician.
All the set pieces, those moments of suspended reality where everyone starts singing and dancing, are fantastic. There are many highlights, starting with "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)," a huge tracking shot in an amusement park that mixes dance and fighting with stunning visuals. In fact, the entire film's visuals are stunning, beginning with Julian Day's costumes that emulate the extravagant outfits Elton John wears in real life.
One advantage of this suspension of reality that the musical brings is that the film allows itself visual metaphors based on fantastic realism, something that a "naturalistic" biography would not allow. For example, in the famous jump Elton makes while playing the piano in "Crocodile Rock," Fletcher has the sensitivity to slow down time and show the singer as if he were floating. The audience begins to float too, in the artist's first consecration before the public. Not to mention the always very saturated photography, with flashes that cross the screen all the time and spotlights that turn on and off on the actors' faces.
A less interesting cliché, however, is the biopic structure. The artist starts from nowhere and reaches the top because of his absurd talent. Fame goes to his head and he begins to destroy himself. In a cathartic moment, he is reborn and finally reaches complete glory. These are extremely predictable plot points that detract somewhat from the film's brilliance. The "catharsis" is particularly embarrassing, in a scene where the singer finally has to confront his demons.
What compensates for these occasional missteps is that the film isn't afraid to delve into Elton John's personal life. While other biopics seem hesitant to explore their protagonist's sexuality, here, Elton is shown in numerous homosexual relationships. In fact, one of the musical numbers depicts a sea of people with whom the musician must have had relationships. Drugs aren't left out either. It's nothing extremely shocking, but it shows what one expects from a biopic with at least a minimum concern for accurately portraying its subject.
All the eccentricity and exuberance of the film only works because it's embraced by actor Taron Egerton . He not only re-recorded the vocals for the entire film soundtrack but also perfectly embodies John's mannerisms. Despite the distinct physical stature, the makeup and acting combine for a great performance. Egerton even ventures into some overacting moments which, again, match the extravagance of the film and its subject. It wouldn't be surprising to see the actor during awards season.
Rocketman is a risky film that isn't afraid to fall into total kitsch. Not only does it fall into it, but it revels in a deliberately delightful exaggeration. Although it does a better job of emulating the structure of a musical than a biography, the film is the story of Elton John the way it should be. On top of that, with a soundtrack like that, any film gains a few extra points.
READ ALSO: The Boy from Liverpool, a biopic of John Lennon, will become a musical.
