Rocketman

The story of the life, formation and work of musician Elton John in a fantastic manner . The plot of the film is largely based on such facts of the musician’s biography as homosexuality , the fight against alcohol and drug addiction .

At the beginning of the film, Elton John, dressed in a bright stage costume, begins a drug rehabilitation session and recalls his life.

Young Elton, (at birth - Reginald Dwight) grew up in the 1950s in the UK, brought up by her cold and narcissistic mother Sheila and his loving grandmother Ivy. His father, Stanley, is in the service and is mostly absent at home, as in his son's life. Reginald is interested in music and playing the piano and discovers his ability to “play by ear” - to constantly play the play perfectly after one listening. He hopes to perform for his father after his return, but Stanley is not interested in either his son or his talent.

Reginald begins training with the support of Ivy and eventually ends up at the Royal Academy of Music. Stanley abandons his family after Sheila had an affair with another man. Reginald is interested in rock music and artists such as Elvis Presley, and begins performing at local pubs.

As an adult, the young man joins the Bluesology group. One night, Bluesology hired a backup for a touring American soul band. One of his singers advises Reginald to write some songs, change his name, leave behind his old life and start all over again if he wants to become a famous, professional artist. This inspires Dwight to change his name to Elton John.

Elton begins to compose music and is trying to succeed with DJM Records label Dick James, directed by Ray Williams. Williams introduces Elton to songwriter Bernie Topin, and they quickly form an alliance and move into an apartment to work on songs. But they suddenly lose this apartment when Elton ends his romantic relationship with Arabella, their mistress.

Elton and Bernie return to the Dwight family home to continue writing and create “ Your Song ”. James is impressed with this song and gives the guys a performance at the Los Angeles club. Elton is nervous before his debut, but the audience enthusiastically accepts his performance. The musician is delighted with his success, but he does not leave a feeling of loneliness, when Bernie leaves him alone at a party to spend time with a woman, Elton meets John Reid, the music manager, they spend the night together.

Raid’s influence on Elton launches a chain of events that draws the musician into a depraved life, even when his career rises to a new height. Elton develops a vibrant, unsurpassed image that makes him one of the most successful artists of the 1970s.

The manipulation of the Raid escalates into a direct abuse of power after Elton appointed him his manager. The musician, on the advice of the manager, is trying to establish a relationship with his father, who is now married again and raising two other sons. However, Stanley still does not show interest in Elton, but demonstrates feelings towards his new family. Unhappy and resentful, Elton leaves Reid and calls his mother on the payphone and confesses to her his homosexuality. Sheila directly tells him that she has known this for a long time and she does not care. She ends the conversation by telling Elton that he will be alone forever. In desperation, Elton turns to John for comfort, but Reid hits him and orders him to concentrate on his full-house concert tour. Fighting parents' indifference, as well as the growing physical and emotional violence emanating from Raid, Elton is increasingly succumbing to various addictions: alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, shopping, sex, uncontrolled absorption of food become his eternal companions.

Elton uses a huge amount of drugs and alcohol, so as not to feel pain and loneliness, his mood swings and temper repel friends who are trying to take care of him. He catches Raid on treason with another man and breaks off his relationship. John taunts him and says that he wants Elton to continue to earn money for him. On the same day, during a party at home, Elton mixes drugs and alcohol and tries to commit suicide by jumping into the pool. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and from there sent to the stage, to the Dodger Stadium.

Elton is increasingly drowning in drugs, alcohol and loneliness. He has a short marriage with a close friend - Renata, but his homosexuality and alcoholism dooms these relationships to failure. He quarrels with his mother, who hypocritically accuses him of having abandoned Stanley, and claims that she “refused everything for her son,” and with Bernie.

Elton's dependence on prescription pills and alcohol leads to a heart attack. He is again urgently sent to the hospital, but Reid, not paying attention to the condition of the musician, makes him return to the stage for a performance. Realizing that his life is getting out of hand, Elton leaves Madison Square Garden before the concert and seeks help. He comes into rehab and realizes that he no longer needs support and approval from his parents or John Reid. Elton puts up with Bernie, who brings him new lyrics to try to help get back to work. At first, Elton is worried that he will not be able to perform or compose without alcohol or drugs as a support, but Bernie believes in him. Elton writes "I am still standing" and returns to a successful career.

The film’s final subtitles inform viewers that Elton has been sober for over 28 years, but he “still has some shopping problems”, that their friendship with Bernie passed the test of time, and that Elton John found his true love.

• Theron Edgerton - Elton John
• Jamie Bell - Bernie Topin
• Richard Madden - John Reid
• Bryce Dallas Howard - Sheila
• Stephen Graham - Dick James
• Charlie Rowe - Ray Williams
• Gemma Jones - Ivy
• Keith Connor - Reggie in her youth
• Camille Lemeszewski - Dr. Maverick / Paramedic
• Stephen Mackintosh - Stanley
• Jimmy Wee - Arthur
• Rachel Muldoon - Kiki Dee
• Jason Pennicook - Wilson
• Tom Bennett - Fred
• Selinda Shenmaker - Renata Blauel
• Sharon D. Clark - Elton's Doctor
• Harriet Walter - Helen Piena, Elton John Piano Teacher
• Tate Donovan - Doug Weston
• Ophelia Lovibond - Arabella
• Peter Cherlienko - Dee Murray
• Francesco Lucidi - Nigel Olsson
• Rob Delaney - Elvis Presley (deleted scene)

In January 2012, it was announced that Elton John was developing a biopic about his life, calling Justin Timberlake the most suitable candidate for his role. Lee Hall was to write the script ^[3] .

In March 2013, it was announced that Michael Gracie would be directing the film. In October of that year, it was announced that Tom Hardy would play John, and Focus Features , the film company, had acquired the rights to distribute the film in the United States ^{[4] [5]} .

In July 2017, it was announced that Hardy had left the project, and Theron Edgerton was in negotiations to replace him. ^[6] In April 2018, Edgerton officially joined the film, Dexter Fletcher was announced as a director, and distribution rights passed to Paramount Pictures. ^[7] In an interview, Edgerton noted that the film would not be an ordinary biopic, but a fantasy musical ^[8] . In June of that year, Jamie Bell was given the role of Bernie Topin ^[9] . In July, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard joined the film with the roles of John Reid and mother of John Sheila Eileen, respectively ^{[10] [11]} . In October, Gemma Jones also joined the film ^[12] .

Filming began on August 2, 2018 ^[13] and ended on October 31 of that year ^[14] .

The world premiere of the film took place on May 16, 2019 at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival ^[15] . In the UK, the picture was released on May 22, 2019 ^[16] . The premiere of the film in the United States was originally scheduled for May 17, 2019, but was later shifted to May 31 ^{[17] [18]} .

In the Russian version of the film, several scenes were cut, in which same-sex kisses and sex were present, as well as drug use. In addition, individual credits were changed at the end of the picture ^[19] . Later, the filmmakers and Elton John published a joint statement in which they accused Russian distributors of the film in censorship . “We most strongly reject the decision to censor the Rocketman in the Russian market,” the statement said on the musician’s Facebook page. ^[20] In Samoa, the film was banned from showing due to gay scenes. ^[21]

At the Cannes Film Festival, the film received a standing ovation. ^[22]

On the Rotten Tomatoes website , the picture has a rating of 89% based on 349 reviews with an average rating of 7.64 out of 10. The critical consensus of the site is: “It will be a long, long time before another rock-biographical film can catch the ups and downs in the artist’s life like this how “Rocketman” succeeded ” ^[23] . On the Metacritic website , the film scored 69 points out of 100, which is based on 49 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews" ^[24] .

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film three out of five stars, saying that Edgerton made "a good impression, showed the image of a brilliant musician," and wrote: "This is a sincere, sincere tribute to the music of Elton John and his public image." 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 stories shines through every frame” ^[25] .

• " Rocketman ” on the Internet Movie Database
• "Rocketman": Neither sex, nor drugs - at least rock and roll // Nezavisimaya Gazeta , May 4, 2019
• The creators of "Rocketman" about the real life of his hero: "Elton John does not hide anything and is not ashamed" // Tape. Ru , June 5, 2019