Almost There: Taron Egerton in "Rocketman"
Monday, June 1, 2020 at 10:12PM 
Because it's Pride Month and Rocketman is new to streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime, this week's Almost There subject is Taron Egerton in Dexter Fletcher's Elton John biopic. In the most recent awards season, this Welsh actor probably came quite close to an Oscar nomination, both thanks to his performance as well as his aggressive campaigning. The nature of his role helped too, of course. Biopic roles are, literally, the Academy's favorite flavor of Oscar bait. Still, in the year after Bohemian Rhapsody's controversial victories, Rocketman had to content itself with a Best Original Song win. As for Egerton, he got Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG nods, but failed to secure the Oscar nomination, ending up just outside the Best Actor lineup…
Before discussing any element of Taron Egerton's performance as Elton John we should understand what sort of approach Rocketman takes to the challenge of documenting life on film. Structurally, the movie is a very conventional biopic, using the framing device of rehab to tell the story of its protagonist's rise to fame and subsequent fall from grace. Like many a rock biopic, its beats are predictable and perfunctory, from the prodigiousness of Elton as a child to his problems with addiction after becoming a multi-millionaire sensation. What makes this project different from other similar productions is how it fuses the classic model of the biopic with the exuberant artifice of the musical.
Far from restricting Elton John's iconic songs to concert scenes or interludes in the recording studio, Dexter Fletcher devised a campy extravaganza out of the singer's life story. From the first glitter-infused images, when Egerton walks towards the camera in a devil costume complete with cock feathered wings and bedazzled horns, Rocketman is firing a shot of unrestrained excess at its audience. Things don't calm down after that, with each musical number being staged in the most earnest way imaginable, with every emotion lived up to the breaking point and every costume covered in as many sequins as possible.
Such a stylistic approach sets the parameters for Taron Egerton's take on Elton John. The famous singer is said to have chosen the young actor himself, a flattering bit of casting that speaks of a glamorous vision of Elton John that is more interested in the legend than the nitty-gritty particulars of reality. In other words, Egerton doesn't look very much like Elton John neither does he sound like him. Other actors may have been bogged down by the desire for chameleonic transformation, but Egerton seems to be aware of what sort of movie he's in. Instead of mimicry, he plays Elton almost as an original character, only rarely indulging in copycat impersonation. It's an impression of the star more than a reflection of the real thing.
For some, that disinterest in biographical exactitude may be infuriating, but Egerton justifies his approach with one hell of a fun performance. Early on, when running through the streets while singing "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)", he's a ball of nervous energy. Character and actor seem to vibrate with the joy of performing, filling even the most stoic spectators with electric giddiness. That consummate showmanship and need to entertain characterize this first act of Egerton's work, before success and the lure of a handsome manager weight down on Elton John.
Egerton's greatest talent when it comes to playing this gay icon is the ability to mix the bravado of a born entertainer with searing vulnerability. He makes that clear from the first therapy scene. In it, he spits out a torrent of self-critique in a way that feels more confrontational than confessional. The sullen pop star is trying to weaponize his candor and pain, but, midway through the rant, he loses control over the situation. The words start to explode on his face and die on his throat, and Egerton's cocky smile crumbles into a tense frown. A forceful mask of diva-like control cracks to reveal a bruised soul.
Because of that ease with playing vulnerability, Egerton's best scenes are usually the ones he gets to do alongside Jamie Bell's Bernie Taupin. Throughout their interactions, both men paint a powerful portrait of devoted friendship, one that may be initially tainted by the hurt of unreciprocated yearning but ends up being impossible to break. During one particularly choleric shouting match, when Elton's self-loathing explodes outwards, Egerton and Bell play the dynamic of the two friends perfectly. There's anger and resentment, but, before they can fester into something uglier, the singer changes his tune and asks for his friend's forgiveness.
Such tone shifts when played with automatic lived-in ease tell a tale of many similar interactions happening outside the narrative. Rocketman may be a musical of unashamed fakery, glamour, and glitz, but it's also a spectacle of earnest sentiment. Elton may smile manically for the fans, but we get to witness the labor of that constructed glee. The presentation of these lives is deliberately artificial, which doesn't mean that their emotions aren't real. Rocketman's a lie that tells the truth, a bit of razzle-dazzle that illuminates the depths of its character's souls. Egerton plays this quite well, committing to the performance totally, even though his approach to Elton's fury feels a tad repetitive and in need of further modulation. He's better at singing his heart out than he is at screaming.
Overall, though, this is a very good performance that is significantly better than many similar Oscar-winning works. Still, 2019 wasn't Egerton's year and Antonio Banderas ended up snagging the last Best Actor slot that was up in the air come nomination morning. The Two Popes' Jonathan Pryce may indeed have been vulnerable, but, considering that film's other big nominations, it seems unlikely. If the choice is between Pain and Glory's leading man and Rocketman's prodigious star, I admit to siding with the Academy. The other Best Actor nominees were Joaquin Phoenix for Joker, Leonardo DiCaprio for Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Adam Driver for Marriage Story. Would you kick any of them out to make space for Taron?
Rocketman is available to stream on Hulu, Amazon Prime, DirecTV, and Epiz. You can also rent or buy the movie from Amazon, Youtube, Apple iTunes, and others.
Reader Comments (32)
I would kick Jonathan Pryce out. Not that he didn't do good work, but I think Egerton walked a higher and thinner tightrope and did it with aplomb.
Kicked Leo out - no need for him to be included
Yup, kick Leo out. Nothing special about that performance. Just his typical self aware nonsense.
Of the five nominated by the Academy?
Easy Drops:
5. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (I mean, okay, he's intense, but he's ONLY intense. He has NOTHING to work with, mostly because the story (interpreted through the lens of Batman) is this bizarre Joker/Penguin cocktail of a thing that feels like two scripts were slammed together and filmed as is. It's not Razzie worthy, but other than being better than Leto's, why is it here?)
4. Adam Driver, Marriage Story (You know what Nat said about being worried for Driver, not Charlie? I also was, but if I'm worried for the actor, not the character? That's not great acting. The distance isn't being broken. Also had very little to work with.) (Yes, these first two were fighting for the win. Groan.)
Dunno:
3. Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Absolutely Not:
2. Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
1. Antonio Banderas, Pain & Glory
Replace Jonathan Pryce with Taron and you have a pretty perfect lineup!!!!
Kick Leo out for the best performance of his career???!!! Crazy talk!!!
I wouldn’t replace any of the nominated actors with Egerton. This years Best Actor lineup was terrific and much more exciting than Best Actress. If there’s an unnominated actor that I would have liked to see make the cut it would have been Eddie Murphy.
JJM -- I also prefer Murphy to Egerton in the 2019 Best Actor race. However, Egerton was closer to the Oscar, hence why he's the subject of this piece. The Academy didn't really have any love to spare for Dolemite, not even for Ruth Carter's perfect costuming, which is terrible.
Richter Scale -- Glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks this was the best work DiCaprio's ever done. Out of his many nominations, it's probably the only one I'd give him.
Of the Oscar nominees, I think Pryce is the weakest link and wouldn't mind seeing Egerton take his place. I also prefer Egerton to Phoenix, to be perfectly honest.
It was a strong year in the category, maybe Pryce is the weakest, but with a long career it was time to get a nomination, Egerton will be recognized in the future if he chooses the right roles.
This one is so easy for me - drop Pryce (solid but not "best") or Phoenix (some great moments but incoherent) . Include Egerton!
i am still obsessed with this performance, This could have gone wrong at every turn.
I don't really think he was good enough for a nod either way but I'd probs take him over Pryce?
I'd throw in Murphy and/or DeNiro over either of them!!
Agree, that Egerton > Pryce, Phoenix. Rocketman is enormously rewatchable, I like it more each viewing.
Not my Elton John,ok for a school play.
Eeh. I don't think he was no. 6 and i definitely don't think he should've been nominated. Not sure what separates this from Malek's Freddie except for the singing.
I think he’s awesome in the film and it’s sure he was almost there. I would have been glad for him if he were nominated not because I think he was definitely better than all the nominees, even if I’m not a fan of all of them...but because Malek won the previous year for a really worse perf
Throw Pryce out. They nommed him for his career.
Do not remind of fucking Bohemian Rhapsody shite.
Taron Egerton should’ve been nominated over Adam driver. He could’ve won the category
I haven't seen Rocketman (though i'd like to see it), but I'd have moved any of the nominated performances I have seen to make way for Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems. A towering performance.
Unpopular opinion: I would pick Egerton over DiCaprio, easily!
I don't think Rick Dalton is DiCaprio's best performance , but I admit he's extremely watchable. But Egerton is simply amazing as Elton John. I was sceptical about Egerton in the beginning of the movie, but then I was compelled: the hunky Egerton simply disappeared and I was sold.
.
But considering the AMPAS' love for "Once Upon a Time in Hollyood", I would say the order of contenders/nominees were:
#1. Phoenix, "Joker"
#2. Driver, "Marriage Story"
#3. DiCaprio, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
#4. Banderas, "Dolor y gloria"
#5. Pryce, "The Two Popes"
-------------------
#6. Egerton, "Rocketman"
#7. Bale, "Ford v. Ferrari"
#8. Sandler, "Uncut Gems"
But, once again, it was a terrific year for Best Actor race... If the Oscars were the Critics' Choice Award, there would be 7 or 8 Best Actor nominees!
Edward L.: Agreed on Sandler. Personal ballot?
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems - Winner
Antonio Banderas, Pain & Glory
Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood
He had one of the best entrance (maybe THE best!) scene of a biopic ever.
Was probably still too gay for the Academy.
Volvagia: That looks like a really good list. I agree that Pitt is a lead and that he deserves a spot. (I am a DiCaprio fan but I felt he wasn't quite right in Once Upon a Time... 90% there but not 100%. His best nominated performance this decade is, I think, in The Wolf of Wall Street, where he's sublime.)
I really hated Uncut Gems and Adam Sandler
My list :
Antonio Banderas
Leonardo Di Caprio
Taron Egerton
Joaquin Phoenix
Adam Driver
That’s all !
2019 was a strong year and it would be difficult to pick who to throw out. I would go with Phoenix or Pryce, but I would sub in Murphy ahead of Egerton. Had Rocketman come out on 2018, though, would Egerton have gotten in and threatened Rami Malek’s win?
Just saw Rocketman last night, in part because of this article. Elton John has been one of my favorites since way back when, and I thought the movie was delightful. I didn't know any of Elton's early history, nor much about his struggle with addiction. I loved the musical numbers.
To my mind, they could have ditched Leonardo DiCaprio for that boring movie (still don't understand why Tarantino is considered a "talent") in which an actor plays an actor and there's no difference between the two. And then nominate Taran instead. He did a masterful job of playing a character who was complex and disturbed.
I hated "Uncut Gems" as well. This guy was asking for trouble every single time. Stupid.
I'd kick out Phoenix in favor of Taron Egerton. Without question.
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