Biopic Review: "Rocketman"
Biopics have become very popular in recent years, but perhaps one of the most thrilling as of late is one I had the pleasure to recently watch on-demand; a biopic about a very famous piano star (and I'm not talking the "Piano MAN)."
Elton John Rocketman
With no intention of ruining the surprise, this biopic follows Sir Elton John from his childhood, through to his meeting with Bernie Taupin and their long-time collaboration. The biopic (nearly) accurately portray his childhood, but there are a lot of things, in my opinion, that are missing.
It's not chrnological
This for me has got to be the biggest disappointment of the biopic. As you'll see later on, the discography is the biggest curveball of the film.
Incomplete
The movie may have shown EJ's rendtion of Pete Townshend's Tommy, but to me the biggest disappointment was the absense of all the activity with John Lennon. There are no featured performances - nothing! This has got to be a MASSIVE blow, because Elton and John were very good friends in the early to mid 70s. It eventually led to EJ recording the Fab Four's hit Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds that even featured John Lennon (credited as "Dr. Winston O'Boogie") on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. The pair also promised each other to perform together if Lennon's 1974 hi Whatever Gets you Through the Night reached #1 on the chart. Lo and behold, this happened and the two found themselves sharing a stage at Madison Square Gardens.
Speaking of MSG, in 2007, for his 60th birthday, Elton John performed his 60th concert there!
What else is missing? His work in the 90s. During this time, Elton John began reaching out to a newer generation by writing music for movies, most noteably The Lion King (Can You Feel the Love Tonight). Even more so, Princess Diana of Wales died in 1997, and I wish this was somehow portaryed. It was a very pivotal moment in EJ's career folks.
Time for some fact checking...
The most important thing to do with biopics is to look up the facts as not everything is portrayed as is shown.
Elvis hair: The real EJ was not allowed to have an Elvis haircut. In the film, his mother is a bit more affectionate, but his absent father is portrayed perfectly.
Records: This one was a fact. The Dwights were predigious record purchasers and owned all the hot records of the 50s by the likes of Elvis, Bill Haley and His Coments, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.
Discography: This one was a BIG flaw. His discography is well portrayed but wrongfully arranged. For example, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) was not written until 1972, neither was Daniel (1972), or I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues (1983). In short, his discography is out of order.
The Troubadour Show: This show actually happened on a Tuesday in real life. Furthermore, EJ did not meet his backing band then, but had already been working with bass player Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olson. Davey Johnston rounded up the intial lineup of the Elton John Band in 1972, but this was not a former "band" per se. Rather, a group of musicians backing him. Also, Neil Young's last performance at the Troubadour was in 1969. Since the 70s he had not played there.
Name Change: Again, the name change occured much later than in the video (around 1972 after recording Candle in the Wind). In 1972, Reginald Dwight, legally changed his name to Elton (from jazz musician Dean Elton) John (taken from Bluesology's Long John Baldry, contrary to the movie suggesting that the "John" part came from John Lennon).
Those, folks, are the major fallicies portrayed in the movie. There are many others to discuss but again, I do not wish to ruin the surprise.
Elton John Rocketman
With no intention of ruining the surprise, this biopic follows Sir Elton John from his childhood, through to his meeting with Bernie Taupin and their long-time collaboration. The biopic (nearly) accurately portray his childhood, but there are a lot of things, in my opinion, that are missing.
It's not chrnological
This for me has got to be the biggest disappointment of the biopic. As you'll see later on, the discography is the biggest curveball of the film.
Incomplete
The movie may have shown EJ's rendtion of Pete Townshend's Tommy, but to me the biggest disappointment was the absense of all the activity with John Lennon. There are no featured performances - nothing! This has got to be a MASSIVE blow, because Elton and John were very good friends in the early to mid 70s. It eventually led to EJ recording the Fab Four's hit Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds that even featured John Lennon (credited as "Dr. Winston O'Boogie") on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. The pair also promised each other to perform together if Lennon's 1974 hi Whatever Gets you Through the Night reached #1 on the chart. Lo and behold, this happened and the two found themselves sharing a stage at Madison Square Gardens.
Speaking of MSG, in 2007, for his 60th birthday, Elton John performed his 60th concert there!
What else is missing? His work in the 90s. During this time, Elton John began reaching out to a newer generation by writing music for movies, most noteably The Lion King (Can You Feel the Love Tonight). Even more so, Princess Diana of Wales died in 1997, and I wish this was somehow portaryed. It was a very pivotal moment in EJ's career folks.
Time for some fact checking...
The most important thing to do with biopics is to look up the facts as not everything is portrayed as is shown.
Elvis hair: The real EJ was not allowed to have an Elvis haircut. In the film, his mother is a bit more affectionate, but his absent father is portrayed perfectly.
Records: This one was a fact. The Dwights were predigious record purchasers and owned all the hot records of the 50s by the likes of Elvis, Bill Haley and His Coments, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.
Discography: This one was a BIG flaw. His discography is well portrayed but wrongfully arranged. For example, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) was not written until 1972, neither was Daniel (1972), or I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues (1983). In short, his discography is out of order.
The Troubadour Show: This show actually happened on a Tuesday in real life. Furthermore, EJ did not meet his backing band then, but had already been working with bass player Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olson. Davey Johnston rounded up the intial lineup of the Elton John Band in 1972, but this was not a former "band" per se. Rather, a group of musicians backing him. Also, Neil Young's last performance at the Troubadour was in 1969. Since the 70s he had not played there.
Name Change: Again, the name change occured much later than in the video (around 1972 after recording Candle in the Wind). In 1972, Reginald Dwight, legally changed his name to Elton (from jazz musician Dean Elton) John (taken from Bluesology's Long John Baldry, contrary to the movie suggesting that the "John" part came from John Lennon).
Those, folks, are the major fallicies portrayed in the movie. There are many others to discuss but again, I do not wish to ruin the surprise.
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