LGBTQ+ Movie Reviews: Rocketman - "Enough Outrageous Campiness to Last You a Long, Long Time"

By Dylan Mann-Hazell

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elton Johhn's hugely popular record Honky Chateau, we're calling back to a movie that empowers queer voices, seeks to dismantle negative stereotypes around mental health, and ultimately promotes an important message: one of empathy and kindness. Whether you’re a life-long fan of the rock star, just fond of a few songs, or have never even heard his work, there is something for everybody to enjoy in the 2019 biopic musical, Rocketman.

Image Credit: Canva

Incredible performances from Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell and Richard Madden aside, the soundtrack curated for this biopic is by far the main attraction. The writers could have easily thrown all of Elton John’s hit songs into a random order and won the audience over using nostalgia for his most beloved singles – but the genius thing about this movie is how it uses the existing songs to tell the story of Elton’s life. Right from the first act, we see the 2001 track I Want Love used within context of Elton’s lonely childhood, and it makes the song more heartbreaking than ever. This becomes a reoccurring theme throughout this film, with writers finding more and more creative ways of using Bernie Taupin’s iconic lyrics to drive the narrative of the movie.

Not once does the story feel like it’s being deliberately being shifted to suit the lyrics of their chosen song - each choice feels deliberate and well-paced. Take the infamous Tiny Dancer, where a reference is made to a “blue jean baby”. During this piece, the film depicts Elton staring longingly at his writing partner and close friend Bernie, and the rest of the lyrics speak for themselves. This also occurs in arguably Elton’s most well-known single Your Song, as he directs the soulful words “Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen” towards a young Taupin. Crocodile Rock, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets and, of course, Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time) are also incorporated as part of the plot, and the reimagined production is nothing short of magical. Swelling orchestras and booming choirs in the show-stopping scenes that require it, in contrast to Egerton’s soothing vocals and a light piano in the softer moments of the story. Every single track is utilized to perfection opposite Dexter Fletcher’s innovative direction, and the heartfelt storytelling does a queer icon the justice he deserves.

No track achieves the narrative-based context better than I'm Still Standing, though. The entire movie follows Elton through his highest highs and lowest lows, as we watch him battle alcohol, drugs, fame, depression and loneliness – and come out the other side of it stronger than ever. The 80’s classic closes the movie as Elton belts “I'm still standing after all this time”, and the song takes on a stronger meaning than ever before. From beginning to end, Rocketman supplies an emotional, exciting, humorous, and insightful view into the life of an icon in the music industry, whilst providing a catchy soundtrack with dance numbers, glorious costumes and enough outrageous campiness to last you a long, long time.

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