ROCKETMAN (15)
★★★ ★★
FOLLOWING his involvement behind the camera as replacement director of Bohemian Rhapsody, Dexter Fletcher trains his lens on another exuberant musical performer in this occasionally thrilling but largely conventional biopic of Elton John.
Penned by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), Rocketman traces the singer-songwriter’s rise to
stardom from his early years growing up in Pinner with his mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard) and grandmother Ivy (Gemma Jones).
Reg (Taron Egerton) unlocks his gift for songwriting by forging a creative partnership with Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). Dick James (Stephen Graham), founder of DJM, signs Reg and Bernie to the label and nurtures the raw talents as Reg changes his name to Elton John and finds new purpose with manager John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his lover.
For his fans, Elton dons outlandish costumes and embraces his larger-than-life stage persona but behind the scenes, he wrestles with substance abuse, depression and his sexuality.
These bruising battles do not get in the way of creative collaborations include a duet with Kiki Dee (Rachel Muldoon), as Elton defies the naysayers to remain relevant.
The soundtrack includes over 20 of John’s hits (sung by Egerton) plus a new song of self-affirmation entitled (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.
Fletcher’s film won’t go breaking the hearts of Elton John’s fans.