This is really one of those head-scratchers. One fucking nomination? Nothing for Taron Egerton? Nothing for Bryce Dallas Howard? Nothing for costumes? After the Academy fell over itself last year to give Bohemian Rhapsody as many awards as it could, Best Original Song was the best it could do this year? Was the musical awards budget tapped out?Elton John (Taron Egerton) started life as Reggie Dwight (Matthew Illesley), a chubby kid in 1950s Britain stuck between an emotionally distant father (Steven Mackintosh) and an emotional terrorist mother (Bryce Dallas Howard). Fortunately, he was also a piano prodigy and translated that into a career as one of the top performers in the entire world, thanks in large part to his partnership with Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). Fame, fortune, and no restrictions did Elton absolutely no good, especially with manager John Reid (Richard Madden) enabling and profiting at every turn.
This is a fairly by-the-book biopic, elevated by Egerton's complete commitment to the role and the fun, fantastical music numbers. Bonus! Not directed by a pedophile! Probably what sunk its chances. Jokes aside, it does feel like it's trying to ride Bohemian Rhapsody's coattails. That's unfortunate because it's a good film that will probably never come out of the shadow of its predecessor. Ah well. Perhaps history will be kinder to it than its contemporaries.
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