Rocketman

[Anonymous]

I didn’t see a thread about the movie. I saw it today and loved it. I wonder how much of it is true. Were his parents really awful like in the movie?

[Anonymous]

I read a review that he cried after screening it so makes me believe much of it is true. I think they fudged dates a little but otherwise stuck to what was real

[Anonymous]

I'm going to see it this week. I've already watched the trailer 6 times.

[Anonymous]

Haven’t seen the movie but heard Elton John interviewed on Fresh Air; he didn’t characterize his parents as “awful,” though he did say they were very conservative and strict thru his teen years. So as he began to travel in his early 20s he realized he had been very sheltered and was naive and unsophisticated... but he talked about them and their views as products of a certain time rather than objectively bad. They were supportive of his music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t see a thread about the movie. I saw it today and loved it. I wonder how much of it is true. Were his parents really awful like in the movie?

Sounds like it: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/rocketman-movie-elton-john-mom-sheila

[Anonymous]

Wow. OP here. Don’t want to spoil it but that one scene near the end in the restaurant with his mom and stepfather was harsh.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I read an article which interviewed his brother who contradicted a lot - especially his relationship with his father. Elton's brother said that their father was actually very supportive of his musical talents as well as when he came out. I haven't seen the movie yet but there was definitely backlash from his family.

[Anonymous]

I know this won't be popular to say, but I really don't like EJ.

His brother is furious because he says the film portrays their father as a jerk, and that simply isn't true.

How quickly people forget: while EJ eventually got involved with charity, he was famously tight with his money when it came to charity. More directly: he wasn't charitable. Then he famously was interviewed about how he is an unapologetic diva whose lifestyle requires a lot of money (hence, can't be charitable). He's always struck me as a self-centered jerk. The AIDS work actually served to promote his career/relaunch his career (remember: there was a time when he became less relevant). And now that he's old and on his farewell tour, we're supposed to forget everything, let him rewrite history, and embrace him as the perfect popstar. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

^ I agree. My impression of him is that he is rude and not very nice. He has a reputation of being incredibly cruel to staff members and people around him, publicity folks, people on talk shows etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ I agree. My impression of him is that he is rude and not very nice. He has a reputation of being incredibly cruel to staff members and people around him, publicity folks, people on talk shows etc

I love his music, but his reputation was always being a nasty, narcissist. I grew up in the 70s and there were always awful stories about how he treated people. Then, he latched onto Lady Di and was absolved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this won't be popular to say, but I really don't like EJ.

His brother is furious because he says the film portrays their father as a jerk, and that simply isn't true.

How quickly people forget: while EJ eventually got involved with charity, he was famously tight with his money when it came to charity. More directly: he wasn't charitable. Then he famously was interviewed about how he is an unapologetic diva whose lifestyle requires a lot of money (hence, can't be charitable). He's always struck me as a self-centered jerk. The AIDS work actually served to promote his career/relaunch his career (remember: there was a time when he became less relevant). And now that he's old and on his farewell tour, we're supposed to forget everything, let him rewrite history, and embrace him as the perfect popstar. No thanks.

Is this one of his younger half brothers? If so, they probably have very different experience of their father. My ex remarried and has three kids with his wife. He lives with them and is always around. My DS never sees his father because he lives on the other side of the country and the new wife doesn't want him there. My son's experience of his father and his half brother's experience of his father are like night and day. Same person, different experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I agree. My impression of him is that he is rude and not very nice. He has a reputation of being incredibly cruel to staff members and people around him, publicity folks, people on talk shows etc

I love his music, but his reputation was always being a nasty, narcissist. I grew up in the 70s and there were always awful stories about how he treated people. Then, he latched onto Lady Di and was absolved.

This! Precisely this!

He's still a jerk. He just wised up and figured he needed to play the PR machine better in order to remain relevant, liked and profitable. He's still pompous. And while his foundation does a lot, he basically launched it to recreate his image and relaunch his career. I'm sure his handlers worked hard to convince him to do it.

Ya know, we can like someone's music without putting them on a pedestal.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I met him briefly once (even have a pic!) and he was gracious. And taller than I thought

[Anonymous]

I don't care if he's a jerk. I'll never meet him! I love his music. Reminds me of good times.

Looking forward to seeing the movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this won't be popular to say, but I really don't like EJ.

His brother is furious because he says the film portrays their father as a jerk, and that simply isn't true.

How quickly people forget: while EJ eventually got involved with charity, he was famously tight with his money when it came to charity. More directly: he wasn't charitable. Then he famously was interviewed about how he is an unapologetic diva whose lifestyle requires a lot of money (hence, can't be charitable). He's always struck me as a self-centered jerk. The AIDS work actually served to promote his career/relaunch his career (remember: there was a time when he became less relevant). And now that he's old and on his farewell tour, we're supposed to forget everything, let him rewrite history, and embrace him as the perfect popstar. No thanks.

Is this one of his younger half brothers? If so, they probably have very different experience of their father. My ex remarried and has three kids with his wife. He lives with them and is always around. My DS never sees his father because he lives on the other side of the country and the new wife doesn't want him there. My son's experience of his father and his half brother's experience of his father are like night and day. Same person, different experiences.

+1