Cinephile № 788 “Rocketman”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years.” -IMDB

Review: The music biopic is a deep well. Every time someone drops a bucket down the hole, I get a little nervous about what they will bring to the surface. When the trailer for “Rocketman” was released, I felt those same nerves tingle with fear. As I watched the film from beginning to end, I realized this is the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” should have been. “Rocketman” was a fun, imaginative, endearing, and a creative look at the early years of Elton John through his rise to fame and beyond. Without a doubt, if writers are going to continue drafting scripts about famous musicians, this is a film they should keep in mind.

From an early age, Elton John was meant to create something eternal through his art. Via his ascent and rise to fame, he became a transformational figure destined for greatness. Of course, like most forms of art, there must be a genesis; a moment in time serving as a motivator for all future accomplishments. For Elton John, this spark was about seeking the love of his mother and father; both of whom couldn’t have cared less. Elton could have let this pain turn into a deep depression that would have haunted him for the rest of his life. Instead, he chose to channel it through his love of music…