"Rocketman"

Elton John’s remarkable work in the early 1970s has been somewhat overshadowed by his subsequent “tantrums and tiaras” public image. Thus it is a relief to report that while Dexter Fletcher’s bio-pic “Rocketman”, co-produced by Elton, is an all-out musical extravaganza, complete with dance routines and hallucinogenic fantasy sequences, it also pays due homage to his musicianship.

It starts as it means to go on, with Taron Egerton’s Elton, dressed in demonesque red costume, striding into rehab, finally facing up to his issues; and goes on to detail his upbringing, with a distant father (Steven Mackintosh), warmish mother (Bryce Dallas Howard with an impeccable accent), and encouraging grandmother (Gemma Jones); early entry into the Royal Academy of Music; life as a touring soul musician; and pivotal relationships with lyricist Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), music publisher Dick James (a hilariously profane Stephen Graham) and cynical manager and lover John Reid (Richard Madden).

Elton’s sexuality is front and centre, his torment over being gay – or rather, other people’s attitudes towards it – leading to isolation and substance abuse. Throughout, his songs, imaginatively and respectfully arranged by Giles Martin, comment on the action, with little respect played to chronology (e.g. the relatively recent “I Need Love” soundtracks a heartbreaking childhood moment). Lee Hall’s script is sharp, funny and cleverly structured, with only occasional moments of cheesiness (and unavoidable rewriting of history – Long John Baldry doesn’t even get a look-in).

Taron Egerton as Elton John

The film belongs to Egerton, however; his Elton is often petulant and self-pitying, but resolute in his determination to hide the shy Reg Dwight behind multiple flamboyant onstage personas. Fletcher’s film deftly and triumphantly walks the fine line between crowd-pleasing entertainment and merciless character study.