Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell,
Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard
Gemma Jones, Steven Mackintosh
"The only Way to tell his Story
is to Live his Fantasy"
The only way a biopic of a musician would be relevant is to pepper it with his well loved songs. Taron Egerton as Elton John is fantastic, from front teeth gap, glittery costumes, to enormous glasses. All this flamboyance masks a lost soul who only wanted to be hugged & loved, properly.
The opening scene starts with Elton John in full costume entering a rehab center to discuss his shortcomings to a circle of strangers, then it evolves into a musical number focusing on his much younger self. A young boy named Reginald Dwight living with a domineering mother, a gracious grandmother and an absentee father in every sense of the word.
He is briefly enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music, where his musical talent shines. We are introduced to adult Elton, as a struggling musician. His first job was playing piano in a back up band for American jazz singers performing in small clubs in London. He teams up with Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), who writes heartfelt lyrics which Elton sets to music. His rise to fame from Reginald Dwight to Elton John (Elton is the name of his band mate while John refers to John Lennon) is meteoric.
Breaking barriers, he makes it big in the US, handled by a strict manager named John Reid (Richard Madden). A turbulent lifestyle characterized with wild parties, drugs and alcohol. His invincible self grappling with his sexuality, his constant quest for love amidst his larger than life stardom.
A well crafted story line using fantasy, dream sequences and musical numbers but it won't have worked without these elements. Elton John was consulted on everything, from the costumes, the songs, his collaboration with Bernie Taupin, the difficult relationship with his mother, his decline into darkness to his life changing period in rehab centers to work on his sobriety.
A vibrant cinematography added more glitter for lack of a better word. I grew up listening to his songs, the ones they picked were very symbolic for each of the scenes, they were added to. Classic, bouncy, dance-able tunes which still make sense, after all these years.
Taron Egerton was perfect! His nuanced, honestly raw portrayal of Elton John is heartfelt. From his appearance, wearing all those extravagant costumes, to actually singing all the songs - it is NOT easy to play a real life character, but he did an excellent job. Taron deserves all the awards he is getting for this once in a lifetime role.
It is good to know that a lost soul like Elton was able to 'redeem' himself. Now sober for 28 years and counting, still writing songs with Bernie Taupin, a philanthropist and finally finding love with David and their two adorable kids for 25 years now.
... I'm still standing better than I ever did,
looking like a true survivor,
feeling like a little kid.
I'm still standing, after all this time,
picking up the pieces of my life,
without you, on my mind
I'm still standing ... yeah ... yeah .... yeah! ...
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