Rocketman’ Takes Us on a Trip to Elton John’S Highs and Lows

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 | SERVING CHICAGO’S LEGAL COMMUNITY FOR 164 YEARS | CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM

VOLUME 165, NO. 116

‘Rocketman’ takes us on a trip to Elton John’s highs and lows

“Rocketman,” the life story (without credit) after Bryan Sheila, obviously enjoying her of Sir Elton Hercules John, Singer was fired from the job, Joan Crawford turn as a mean born Reginald Dwight, is an “Rocketman” is by far the bet - mum. old-style movie musical that ter movie. Then too, Fletcher Egerton is nerded-up to juxtaposes the spangly world had the collaboration — to suggest John, rather than of a 1970s rock star — all put it mildly — of the film’s clone him. (It’s mind-boggling bright lights, glitter and subject, Elton John, who to consider that Tom Hardy razzmatazz — against the soli - developed “Rocketman” as was once slated for this role.) tary existence of a pudgy executive producer. With John’s blessing, Egerton piano prodigy, pounding away The movie, told in flash - does his own singing and suc - on a parlor upright in a drab back, begins with John (Taron cessfully carries the show inconsequential corner of Egerton) storming into rehab REBECCA L. FORD without the audience pining postwar London. dressed in a bedazzled, red too desperately for the real Both are imprisoned. devil costume, fit with a flut - Elton to don his platform Last year’s “Bohemian tering expanse of angel-wing REBECCA L. FORD is counsel at boots and take over the stage. Rhapsody,” the Freddie Mer - plumage. He’s an angry Scharf Banks Marmor LLC, and Elton John fans have cury biopic covering roughly Icarus, now fallen, feathers concentrates her practice on already been inspired by the same period, was essen - and all, into a circle of earth - complex litigation, compliance, “Rocketman” to revisit his tially a concert film that wove bound addicts. board governance and music in droves — a longing together Queen’s greatest As the film progresses, John specialized employment issues. that is complemented by hits, using threads pulled sheds his flaming costume She is the former executive vice John’s 2018-20 “Farewell Yel - from the front man’s back chrysalis. president for litigation and low Brick Road” world tour, story — a linear collection of “Rocketman” takes off after intellectual property at MGM. scheduled to coincide with late-boomer musical memo - John meets his lifelong lyri - She can be reached at the release of the movie. ries. cist, Bernie Taupin (Jamie [email protected]. “Rocketman” is John’s story “Rocketman” operates on Ball). After a triumphant gig at as he would have it told: The the level of metaphor. The arc LA’s Troubadour in 1970, the inflicted by the dashing villain, lonely boy who finds love of its story is in conversation two manufacture hits nonstop John Reid (Richard Madden), after finding himself. with the lyrics of John’s songs. until the combustible John is Elton’s ruthless manager, John doesn’t flinch from Throughout the film, the consumed by his addictions. lover and Rasputin. tough personal topics — music complements and John and Taupin don’t have As the gentle, temperate abandonment, abuse, addic - embellishes the story, pushing a romantic relationship — Taupin, Bell projects the same tion — and the story ends it forward — Rogers and Bernie’s straight and Elton’s persistent kindness that per - safely somewhere in the early Hammerstein, “La La Land” gay. Yet the love story between meated his performance 20 1990s, before the brightness and “Tommy” all rolled into the two is the backbone of the years ago as the original “Billy of John’s star is ever eclipsed. one. film. The movie’s suspense Elliott.” After such a long, long time, Directed by Dexter Flet - resides in whether the cosmi - An unrecognizably zaftig the Rocket Man touches cher, who was brought in to cally matched partners will Bryce Dallas Howard plays down with a skilled and grace - direct “Bohemian Rhapsody” weather the disruption John’s narcissistic mother, ful landing.