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Rocketman (film)

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This article is about the 2019 film about Elton John. For other uses, see Rocket Man (disambiguation).

Rocketman
UK theatrical release poster
Directed byDexter Fletcher
Written byLee Hall
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGeorge Richmond
Edited byChris Dickens
Music byMatthew Margeson
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • 16 May 2019 (2019-05-16) (Cannes)
  • 22 May 2019 (2019-05-22) (United Kingdom)
  • 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) (United States)
Running time
121 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million[2]
Box office$180.8 million[2]

Rocketman is a 2019 biographical musical film based on the life of musician Elton John. Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, it stars Taron Egerton as John, with Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila Eileen. The film follows John in his early days as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his musical partnership with Taupin. The film is titled after John's 1972 song "Rocket Man."

The film's development initially began in 2001 as it went through studios including Walt Disney Pictures and Focus Features, directors David LaChapelle and Michael Gracey, and actor Tom Hardy. After Hardy and Gracey left the project following creative differences between Focus and John that halted an initial production start in 2014, the project languished until Paramount Pictures took over as distributor in April 2018, where Egerton and Fletcher signed on. Principal photography began in August 2018 and was completed later that year. John served as executive producer, while husband David Furnish produced the film through their Rocket Pictures, alongside Matthew Vaughn's Marv Films.

Rocketman premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2019, and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2019 and in the United States on 31 May 2019. The film has grossed $180 million worldwide against its $40 million budget and received positive reviews from critics, with Egerton's performance, the costume design, and musical numbers receiving general praise.[3] The film was the first major Hollywood production to include a gay male sex scene.[4]

Plot

Dressed in a flamboyant devil's outfit, Elton John enters an addiction rehabilitation session, and recounts his life in a flashback (The Bitch Is Back).

Young Elton (born Reginald Dwight) grows up in 1950s England, raised by his cold, unaffectionate mother, Sheila, and more loving grandmother Ivy. His father, Stanley, serves in the Royal Air Force and is mostly absent from home and his son’s life. Reginald is interested in music and piano and discovers his ability to “play by ear” - instantly replaying a piece perfectly after listening to it once. He hopes to perform for his father upon his return, but Stanley takes no interest in his son or his talent (I Want Love).

Reginald begins formal training with Ivy’s support and eventually makes his way into the Royal Academy of Music.

Stanley abandons his family after Sheila has an affair with another man. Reginald develops interest in rock music and artists such as Elvis Presley, and begins performing in local pubs (Saturday Night's Alright). Now an adult, Reginald joins the band Bluesology.

One night Bluesology is hired to play backup for a touring American soul band. One of its singers recommends that Reginald write some songs, change his name, put his old life behind him and start anew if he wants to become a famous, professional artist. This inspires Reginald to change his name to Elton John.

Elton begins writing music and tries to find success with Dick James' record label DJM Records under the management of Ray Williams. Williams introduces Elton to songwriter Bernie Taupin and they quickly form a friendship (Border Song). Elton's former partners in the soul band out him as homosexual, but Bernie is disinterested in his partner’s sexuality and they move into a flat together to work on their songs. This tenancy ends abruptly when Elton ends his romantic relationship with their landlady.

Elton and Bernie return to Elton's family home to continue writing, and create "Your Song.” James is impressed by the song and sets up a performance for them at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Elton is nervous before his Troubadour debut, but the audience eagerly embraces his performance (Crocodile Rock). Elton is overjoyed by his success, but his lifelong feelings of loneliness and abandonment return at an after-party at Mama Cass's home in the Hollywood Hills when Bernie leaves him to spend time with a woman (Tiny Dancer). He is approached by John Reid, a music manager attracted to Elton. They sleep together and reunite later (Take Me to the Pilot).

Reid's influence over Elton launches a downward spiral into a life of debauchery even as his career rises to new heights. Elton develops a flamboyant, over-the-top stage persona that makes him into one of the most successful artists of the 1970s (Honky Cat).

Reid’s manipulation and control increases into outright abuse after Elton appoints him his new manager. Reid insists he come out as gay to his parents so they can help hide their sexual relationship from the press, so Elton reconnects with Stanley, who is now remarried with two other sons. Stanley still displays no interest in Elton but is demonstrative and affectionate with his new family. Unhappy and hurt, Elton storms away from Reid, calls his mother on a payphone, and tells her he is gay. Sheila bluntly informs him that she already knew, does not care, and ends the call by telling Elton he will be forever alone. Still more upset by his mother's reply, Elton turns to Reid for comfort. Reid slaps him and orders him to focus on his sold-out concert tour.

Struggling with parental issues as well as Reid's increasing physical and emotional abuse, Elton becomes addicted to alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, shopping, and sex.

Elton consumes large amounts of drugs and alcohol to escape his pain and loneliness, but his mood swings and short temper alienate the friends who do care for him (Pinball Wizard). He catches Reid cheating on him with another man and breaks off their relationship. Reid taunts hims and says all he wants is for Elton to keep making money for him. Later that day, during a house party, Elton binges on drugs and alcohol and attempts suicide by jumping into his pool. He is rushed to the hospital, then thrust onstage at Dodger Stadium to perform. (Rocket Man).

Elton descends further into a life of drugs, alcohol, and loneliness( Bennie And The Jets). He has a short-lived marriage with a close female friend, but his homosexuality dooms this relationship. (Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me). He falls out with his mother (Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word) and Bernie.

Infuriated, agitated, and depressed, Elton’s dependence on prescription pills and alcohol result in a heart attack. He is again rushed to the hospital, but Reid shrugs it off as a mild chest infection and forces Elton back onstage for his next performance. Realizing that his life is spiraling out of control, Elton leaves Madison Square Garden before the concert and seeks help (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road). He enters rehabilitation and realizes he no longer needs support and approval from his parents or Reid. Elton rekindles his friendship with Bernie, who brings him new song lyrics to try and help him back in action. At first, Elton is worried that he cannot perform or compose without alcohol or drugs as a crutch but Bernie has confidence in him. Elton writes "I'm Still Standing" and returns to a successful career.

The film’s ending subtitles inform viewers that Elton has been sober for over 28 years. He remains good friends with Bernie, and is now married to David Furnish, with whom he has two children.

Cast

Production

Development

Elton John and husband David Furnish had tried to produce a film based on his life for almost two decades. The earliest efforts dated back to 2001, when development started at Walt Disney Pictures. Photographer David LaChapelle was set to direct the film after his work on the video for John's 2001 single, “This Train Don't Stop There Anymore", which featured Justin Timberlake as a young John.[5] However, the project languished for nearly two decades.[5] In an article written for The Guardian, John said that he struggled to get the film off the ground due to studios wanting it to be toned down to a PG-13 rating instead of an R.[6]

In January 2012, John announced that he had named Timberlake as his top choice to play him in the film. Lee Hall was set to pen the screenplay.[7] In March 2013, Michael Gracey was hired to direct, with Tom Hardy cast in October to play John and Focus Features acquiring the U.S. distribution rights. Filming was initially planned to start in autumn 2014.[8][9] However, creative differences between John and Focus, along with budget issues, led him and Furnish to take the project elsewhere.[10]

In July 2017, it was announced that Hardy was no longer involved, and Taron Egerton entered negotiations to replace him.[10] While editing Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Matthew Vaughn learned about the project and took interest in producing the film on the condition that Egerton played John.[10] Vaughn then picked Dexter Fletcher, who had replaced Bryan Singer during the production of the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, to direct the film since Gracey was busy with The Greatest Showman.[10] The producers then filmed a sequence of Egerton as John performing two of John's songs, and presented it to Jim Gianopulos, who had worked with Vaughn on the Kingsman franchise at 20th Century Fox and was now the CEO of Paramount Pictures.[10] Paramount agreed to finance the film in exchange for worldwide distribution rights.[10] It was reported that Egerton would sing the songs in the film himself, produced by Giles Martin, who was brought on as music director for the project.[11] In an interview at CinemaCon, Egerton stated the film would be more of a fantasy-musical as opposed to a straightforward biopic.[12][13]

Casting

In April 2018, Taron Egerton was officially cast to play the musician in the film. Egerton had previously appeared with John in the 2017 film Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Egerton, as Johnny the Gorilla, sang John's song "I'm Still Standing" in the 2016 animated film Sing. In June, the role of Bernie Taupin was given to Jamie Bell.[14] In July, Richard Madden entered negotiations to play John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard was cast to play John's mother.[15][16] Gemma Jones was announced as being cast in the film in October.[17]

Filming

Production began on 2 August 2018.[18] In October 2018, it was announced the film was shooting in London.[19] Filming commenced at Bray Film Studios near Maidenhead, Berkshire.[20] In March 2019, it was reported by the Daily Mail that Paramount pressured Fletcher to tone down some of the sex scenes. Fletcher stated on Twitter that this was false.[21]

Soundtrack

Main article: Rocketman: Music from the Motion Picture

Release

Rocketman had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2019,[22] and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2019.[23] The film was initially scheduled to be released in the United States on 17 May 2019, but was pushed back to 31 May 2019.[24]

In Russia, where the film was released on 6 June 2019, about five minutes of footage were removed from the final cut. Central Partnership, the company in charge of distribution in the country, removed all scenes involving homosexuality and drugs, a move that was criticized by both John and Paramount.[25]

The film was banned from being shown in Samoa, a conservative Christian nation. Principal Censor Leiataua Niuapu, of Samoa's Censorship Board, explained: "It's a good story, in that it's about an individual trying to move on in life. He [Elton John] went through a difficult family life and managed to move on and become very successful. But there are acts that are not good for public viewing and against the law."[26]

Reception

Box office

As of 18 July 2019, Rocketman has grossed $93 million in the United States and Canada, and $87.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $180.8 million, against a production budget of $40 million.[2]

In the United States and Canada, Rocketman was released alongside Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Ma, and was projected to gross $20–25 million from 3,610 theaters in its opening weekend.[27][28] The film made $9.2 million on its first day, including $1.8 million from Thursday night previews and $580,000 from 18 May paid advanced Fandango screenings, for a preview total of $2.3 million. It went on to debut to $25.7 million, finishing third, behind Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Aladdin.[29] The film dropped 46% in its second weekend to $14 million, finishing in fifth,[30] and then made $9.4 million in its third weekend, climbing to the fourth position.[31]

In the United Kingdom, it debuted to $6.4 million, finishing second, behind fellow new release Aladdin.[32] The following week, the film was projected to gross around $20 million from the international markets it was released in alongside the U.S.,[28] and ended up making $19.2 million from 39 non-U.S. countries over the weekend.[33]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Rocketman holds an approval rating of 90% based on 336 reviews, with an average rating of 7.61/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "It's going to be a long, long time before a rock biopic manages to capture the highs and lows of an artist's life like Rocketman."[34] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 49 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[35] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 4 out of 5 stars and a 69% "definite recommend."[29]

Steve Pond of TheWrap said, "It's all grand and fun and corny; a musical fantasy that reaches for the sky and gets there often enough to make it diverting."[36] The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave the film three stars out of five, saying Egerton performed a "good impression of the flamboyant musician," and writing, "Rocketman is an honest, heartfelt tribute to Elton John's music and his public image."[37] In the same newspaper, Mark Kermode gave the film five stars, writing that "Fletcher is the real star of this show, a director whose enthusiasm for musical storytelling shines through every frame."[38] Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper also greatly enjoyed the film, giving it three-and-a-half stars out of four, and praising its "almost documentary-level eye for detail when it comes to re-creating historic chapters such as the sold-out shows at Dodger Stadium in 1975 when Elton wore a sequined Dodgers uniform and belted out one hit after another to the adoring masses."[39]

Conversely, Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com had mixed feelings about Rocketman, awarding it two-and-a-half stars out of four and stating that the film is a "formulaic, paint-by-numbers biopic."[40]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
Cannes Film Festival 14–25 May 2019 Queer Palm Dexter Fletcher Nominated [41]

References

  1. ^ "Rocketman (15)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Rocketman (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  3. ^ Campbell, Christopher (18 July 2019). "Rocketman First Reviews: Taron Egerton Is a Force in "Goosebump-Inducing" Elton John Biopic". Rotten Tomatoes.
  4. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (16 May 2019). "'Rocketman' Blazes Trail as First Major Studio Film to Depict Gay Male Sex". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b Malkin, Marc (14 May 2019). "Elton John's Husband-Producer Says 'Rocketman' Captures 'Madness' of Singer's Early Life". Variety. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  6. ^ John, Elton (26 May 2019). "Elton John: 'They wanted to tone down the sex and drugs. But I haven't led a PG-13 life'". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  7. ^ Nededog, Jethro (2 January 2012). "Justin Timberlake is Elton John's No. 1 Choice to Play Him in Biopic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  8. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (18 March 2013). "Commercials Director Michael Gracey To Helm Musical Bio Film On Elton John". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ^ McNary, Dave (23 October 2013). "Tom Hardy to Play Elton John in Biopic". Variety. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Siegel, Tatiana (6 May 2019). "'Rocketman' Takes Flight: Inside Taron Egerton's Transformation Into Elton John (and, He Hopes, a Major Star)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  11. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (19 April 2018). "Paramount Greenlighting 'Rocketman'; Taron Egerton To Sing Elton John's Songs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  12. ^ Weintraub, Steve (2 May 2018). "Taron Egerton Says 'Rocketman' is a "Fantasy Musical," Not a Biopic". Collider. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Elton John Biopic 'Rocketman' Sets Summer 2019 Release Date". TheWrap. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (20 June 2018). "Jamie Bell in Talks to Play Bernie Taupin in Elton John Biopic 'Rocketman' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin (19 July 2018). "'Game of Thrones' Actor Richard Madden to Play Elton John's Manager in 'Rocketman' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  16. ^ Kroll, Justin (26 July 2018). "Bryce Dallas Howard to Play Elton John's Mom in Biopic 'Rocketman' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  17. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (1 October 2018). "'Rocketman' Trailer: Watch Taron Egerton Take Flight As Elton John In Concert". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  18. ^ Fletcher, Dexter [@Dexfletch] (2 August 2018). "🚀day 1. Lift off! Nervous and excited. Dx" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 June 2019 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Steves, Ashley (2 October 2018). "London Now Filming: Elton John Biopic 'Rocketman' Starring Taron Egerton". Backstage. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  20. ^ Roberts, George (10 May 2018). "Cameras rolling once again at Bray Studios". Maidenhead Advertiser. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  21. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (22 March 2019). "Elton John Biopic 'Rocketman' Expected to Get R-Rating for Sex, Drug Scenes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (12 April 2019). "Elton John Biopic 'Rocketman' To Officially Blast Off At The Cannes Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  23. ^ Alibhai, Zaina (15 November 2018). "Elton John film Rocketman UK release date, trailer and cast". Metro. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (23 August 2018). "'Rocketman': Elton John Biopic Moves Back Two Weeks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (31 May 2019). "Elton John & 'Rocketman' Filmmakers Blast Russian Distributor For Censoring Scenes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  26. ^ "'Not good for public viewing': Rocketman biopic banned in Samoa", Special Broadcasting Service, 11 June 2019
  27. ^ McNary, Dave (9 May 2019). "Box Office: 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' May Smash $50 Million-Plus in Debut". Variety. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  28. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (29 May 2019). "'Godzilla: King Of The Monsters' To Crush 'Aladdin's Lamp With $230M+ Global Bow; 'Rocketman' & 'Ma' To Rock In Counter-Programming Play". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  29. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (2 June 2019). "'Godzilla' Loses Teeth With $49M Opening, But Counter-Programming Excels For First Time This Summer With 'Rocketman' & 'Ma'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  30. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (9 June 2019). "'Secret Life Of Pets 2' Seeing $47M+, But 'Dark Phoenix' Up In Smoke With $32M+ In Lowest Opening For 'X-Men' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  31. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (16 June 2019). "'Men In Black: International' Domestic Passport Revoked With $26M Opening, 'Shaft' Drops His Gun With $7M+: Summer Sequelitis, Here We Go Again". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  32. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (26 May 2019). "'Aladdin' Takes Princely $207M Global Bow; 'Rocketman' Blasts Off In UK – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  33. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (2 June 2019). "'Godzilla: King Of The Monsters' '$130M Overseas Bow Is #1, But Not Royal; 'Aladdin' Still A Prince & 'Rocketman' Electric – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  34. ^ "Rocketman (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Rocketman reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  36. ^ Pond, Steve (16 May 2019). "'Rocketman' Film Review: Elton John Gets a Musical Fantasy That Sometimes Achieves Liftoff". TheWrap. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  37. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (16 May 2019). "Rocketman review – Elton John biopic that's better at the tiaras than the tantrums". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  38. ^ Kermode, Mark (26 May 2019). "Rocketman review – Elton's sparkliest spectacle yet". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  39. ^ Roeper, Richard (31 May 2019). "'Rocketman': Elton John gets the grand-scale, greatly entertaining biopic he deserves". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  40. ^ Lemire, Christy (28 May 2019). "Rocketman Movie Review & Film Summary (2019)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  41. ^ Mixner, Selina (20 May 2019). "Queer Girl: The Queer Palm Contenders (So Far) at Cannes Film Festival 2019". Awards Circuit. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
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