Can this restricted music film be as successful as "Bomi"

Ellis 2021-11-30 08:01:27

The biggest dark horse in last year’s commercial films is undoubtedly "Bohemian Rhapsody." This musical biopic about the legendary rock star and queen lead singer Freddie Mercury was not favored at first, and it was even released. It was badly criticized by the North American media on the eve. However, with its persistent audience reputation and strong fan effect, the film finally earned a total of 900 million US dollars in box office revenue, breaking the records of music biopics, and achieving unprecedented success.

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

In the commercial film market of Hollywood hegemony, biopics are usually regarded as a type of film with a lack of commercial value, and the distribution scale of music biopics is even more pitiful. Judging from the situation of the past few years, the music biopics that have achieved remarkable commercial achievements are only two of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Out of Compton".

"Out of Compton"

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, a musical biopic that is very close to "Bohemian Rhapsody" won praise from many film media, and was even rated as better than "Bohemian Rhapsody" by some media. , Musical biopics that are more likely to sell well. It is the "Rocket Man" directed by Dexter Fletcher, the director of the make-up part of "Bohemian Rhapsody", and starring British male stars such as Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell. "(Rocketman). This is also another collaboration between Dexter Fletcher and Talen Egerton after "Flying Eagle Eddie".

"Rocket Man"

The film "Rocketman" is about the growth experience of British national treasure singer Elton John. The title Rocketman is taken from Elton's most personally sung song of the same name. Elton John’s real name is Reginald White. Since his debut under the stage name "Elton John" in the 1960s, he has won numerous awards and honors including the Grammy Awards. The cumulative sales of personal records have exceeded 300 million. In 1998, Elton John was knighted by the Queen of England for his musical achievements and outstanding contributions to charity.

Ayrton showed a keen interest in piano since he was a child, and possessing a very high musical talent is a prerequisite for him to become a music superstar in the future, but the sensitive personality caused by childhood scars seems to be what his music can touch the hearts of listeners. deeper reason.

Growing up in an environment of discordant family relations, Ayrton had a bad childhood. His father's attitude towards him was always too serious, even with a little bit of hatred, and he never gave Ayrton enough care; although his mother took on her own responsibilities, she had a grudge against Ayrton deep down in her heart and believed that he existed. Destroyed his marriage. The quarreling parents finally ended in divorce, and the warmth felt by young Elton almost came from his grandmother and music.

When he grew up, Ayrton played and sang part-time in a local pub. His excellent piano performance attracted the attention of small celebrities in the music circle and was invited by the other party to participate in a band's tour. In the course of the tour, Ayrton also gradually developed the idea of ​​becoming a singer, and soon found a record company, requesting to produce and release records for himself.

At the request of the record company, Ayrton, who was unknown, began to compose the lyrics provided by the record company, and thus met his best friend of this life, Bernie Taupin. Bernie is the author of these lyrics and a talented composer. Elton and Bernie met for the first time and talked very speculatively. The two fresh-hearted young men with a high degree of musical taste soon became roommates and created music together.

Bernie Taupin and Elton John

In the inseparable process of getting along, Bernie accidentally learned of Elton's comradeship, but he didn't mind at all. The two opened their hearts to talk about the world, and gradually developed a sense of dependence and tacit understanding of each other. The two of them are destined to complement each other in the future grand music career.

The combination of Ayrton and Bernie finally impressed the owner of the record company. He agreed to release three albums for Ayrton within a year and arranged several shows for Ayrton’s famous private music club "Trout" in Los Angeles, USA. show. The Trout Club often has celebrities, media and celebrities in the music industry. Many stars are discovered here by Hollywood. Club performances are related to the success or failure of Ayrton's career.

Despite the tremendous pressure, I was born with my talents to be useful. Ayrton eventually became famous in this club with his extraordinary performances and won the popular music industry in the United States. Exaggerated dressing style and performance, as well as delicate and diversified music have become his artistic symbols.

At a party, his friend Bernie left Elton in the cold because he had a close conversation with his favorite woman. Ayrton seems to be outgoing and lively, but in fact he is fragile on the inside. Ayrton, who has always been too dependent on Bernie, meets John Reid at this moment of loss. John's flamboyant curiosity quickly captured Elton's heart, and John soon became Elton's lover and agent.

After Ayton became famous, he visited his father who he hadn't met for many years. At that time, his old father had a new family of his own. For Ayton's arrival, his father did not show that he had a relationship with his childhood. What a different change, this indifference hurt Elton, and he was destined to never get love with his father.

And when he did not hesitate to abandon the important performance of the TV station and came out to his mother on the phone with unprecedented courage, his mother just told Elton lightly that he actually knew the fact that Elton was gay a long time ago. . "You will never get the love you deserve", his mother's direct and cold expression of his attitude made Elton a blow.

John, who became Ayrton's agent, gradually exposed his character. He consumed the money Ayrton made hard to earn, and continued to cheat and betray Ayrton. Although Ayrton was angry, he was unable to escape John's control because of the signing of the cooperation treaty. Mother and John attached to him like two leeches, sucking his blood greedily.

Elton's world is full of indifference and deceit. In order to paralyze himself, he drank and took drugs madly, his career fell into a slump, and he even had the urge to commit suicide. Lie to marry, drive away a close friend, be willing to fall... Ayrton did too many wrong things, but fortunately, when it was not too late, he woke up and started to give up alcohol and drugs, and forgive those who had hurt. His relatives, regaining their careers and friends...

Up to now, "Rocketman" has won nearly 200 million US dollars in the global box office. It is undoubtedly another commercially successful music biopic after "Bohemian Rhapsody." But also biopics adapted from the real deeds of top British music stars, "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Rocketman" are works from different angles and different shooting methods.

The film "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a typical idea of ​​conventional biopics. It unfolds on the basis of linear narrative. It emphasizes the accuracy of characters, events, and scenes. Restore the details of the action.

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

"Rocketman" is a work with a little experimental nature. It uses the form of musical performance and flashbacks to present the entire story. It does not emphasize the logic of reality. It is even possible between different stages of Elton John. Start a dialogue beyond time and space.

Obviously "Rocket Man" is a film with a fairy tale color and a stream of consciousness narrative. It even reminds me of the masterpiece "Jazz Spring and Autumn" in the history of American musicals in the late 1970s. Both films are based on The well-designed singing and dancing scenes convey the mental state and emotional changes of the characters.

"Jazz Spring and Autumn"

British actor Taron Egerton (Taron Egerton), who became popular with "Ace Agent", played the role of Elton John. Egerton is undoubtedly one of the British actors with the best prospects for development in recent years. After "Ace Agent", he has starred in a number of movies that hone his acting skills. These experiences have allowed him to achieve his outstanding performance in "Rocketman". Collective praise from the media.

Talen Egerton

Egerton’s excellent voice was also maximized in the film, and the entire film did not use Mercury’s original singing instead of Rami Marek’s voice like "Bohemian Rhapsody". , But Egerton himself completed the singing throughout the whole process, and the degree of completion was quite surprising.

Although a large number of viewers generally believe that "Rocket Man" is more respectful of facts than "Bohemian Rhapsody", there is no malicious tampering and evasion of sensitive issues, even "Rocket Man" has large-scale scenes involving gay sex, which seems to be All aspects are far more open than "Bohemian Rhapsody."

But if we watch the film carefully, we will also question the four words "respect for the facts". The script and filming of "Rocket Man" received the help of Elton John, and we need to consider whether the help provided by Elton himself includes elements of beautifying ourselves. Although this suspicion cannot be perfectly verified, we can easily perceive that the characterization of the movie is biased, only from the role of John Reid who also appeared in "Bohemian Rhapsody". Found clues.

Different images of John Lead in "Rocket Man" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"

John in the movie "Rocket Man" is portrayed as a sinister villain who betrays and constantly squeezes Elton. But the reality is that as an extraordinary music manager, John helped Queen, Elton and others to reach the peak of their careers. John has a friendly cooperative relationship with Queen and Mercury. However, the only trouble with Elton... What kind of person John is? This question seems to have fallen into the context of Rashomon. Whether John in "Rocket Man" is true or not, we don't know.

Excessive expectations for "Rocket Man" have also caused many viewers to feel a certain degree of disappointment after watching the film. This is related to the excessively exaggerated propaganda of the media when "Rocket Man" was screened in Cannes this year. Combining with the fact that "Bohemian Rhapsody" was badly criticized by a large number of media and film critics before it was officially released in North America last year, and finally it was unexpectedly successful, the contrast between audience evaluation and media evaluation has been unavoidable. The audience questioned the credibility of these so-called authoritative media.

But in general, despite the suspicion of being over-publicized by the media, "Rocketman" is still a good biographer of musicians. Compared with the conservative and neat shooting of "Bohemian Rhapsody", it is obviously more The fun and vitality of the image level.

Whether it is "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Rocket Man", these biographical films that reproduce the extraordinary lives of legendary superstars contain their eternal viewing value. For fans, biopics are a way of remembering and paying tribute; for ordinary audiences, biopics are the absorption of the personal experience of those who are in the hands of a few successful people.

We may not be able to become high-profile superstars in the real world, or even live our lives, but we can at least choose to walk with these unreachable superstars in just one short movie. This is the art of cinema. The beauty of a great dream-making art.

Author | Donidak; Official Account | Seeing Death in Movies

Edit | Riding a Rooftop Boy; please indicate the source for reprinting

View more about Rocketman reviews

Extended Reading
  • Creola 2022-03-25 09:01:08

    Male protagonist, singing is a little south... The overall plot is well done. The best in autobiographical films

  • Nicole 2022-04-21 09:01:59

    Barely two points. Boring Elton biopic, the plot is out of the way, he was a musical genius when he was young, but his parents ignored it. When he was young, he tried hard twice to become famous, but he was worried about the shadow left by his parents and his homosexuality, so he took drugs and quarreled Something like that, the plot is so rotten that a show and Elton's emotional dilemmas are intertwined, which is really mind-boggling. In fact, to portray a rock star with deep pockets and a rebellious demeanor as a decadent and weak force with emotional insufficiency is to tell the common people and the audience that the giants have the same troubles that money cannot solve. It is a very business-oriented populist stance. Like this kind of story, "Singing and Tears" in 1979 is difficult to surpass. The film is not the better the better. From concept to technique, many times, instead of progressing, it regresses. Fletcher, the director, has his own style, a bright cartoonish nostalgia, but his character has Simon Pegg's unfortunate tendency to be playful and playful. I also don't like Elton's music. It's similar to the style of "Avenue of Stars". It's high-spirited, cheerful and inspirational. Coupled with his short figure and bloated face, it's disgusting.

Rocketman quotes

  • Bernie Taupin: Don't you want to just go out there and sing without this ridiculous paraphernalia? You know, just... be yourself, Reg.

    Elton John: Why the fuck would I want that, Bernie? You wouldn't say this shit to me if you were a real friend. People don't pay to see Reginald Dwight! They pay to see *Elton John*! Don't ever tell me how to do my fucking job!

    [Elton storms off; long pause and then Elton returns]

    Elton John: I'm sorry.

    Bernie Taupin: [quietly] I know.

  • Elton John: Oh, write the fucking lyrics, Bernie. Let me deal with the rest!