Rocketman | Based on a True Story

[@CynicalHistorian]

Thanks for watching, and please consider supporting the channel by buying merch: teespring.com/stores/the-cynical-historian Or by donating to my Patreon: www.patreon.com/CynicalHistorian See following replies for corrections and additional info, but first, here are some related videos to check out: 0:20 - Bohemian Rhapsody: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pV7LYp2bfLp7ba8 0:45 - Newsies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpSthWpmjLmnp7c 6:35 - Bohemian Rhapsody: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pV7LYp2bfLp7ba8 10:40 - Greatest Showman: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYHGq3aArcqLmtk

[@CynicalHistorian]

*[reserved for errata]*

[@CynicalHistorian]

*References* _Elton John: Me Myself and I,_ directed by James Strong, Independent Television, 22 September 2007, accessed 6 January 2020: kzbin.info/aero/PLF7E1C813E2CDAD9E www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/rocketman/ slate.com/culture/2019/05/rocketman-fact-fiction-elton-john-movie-accuracy.html www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rocketman-fact-check-elton-john-biopic-842902/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John

[@About37Hobos]

I’ve seen the recommendation on another video or two of yours, and I’m wondering if you’re thinking of covering the siege of Jadotville. I’d love to see your take on it, keep up the good work.

[@EmperorTigerstar]

Yeah I enjoyed this one way more than Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@WoodstockProd]

Didn't everyone?

[@WoodstockProd]

@Thorne it is

[@troodon1096]

I honestly didn't think Bohemian Rhapsody was bad for what it was trying to be, but yeah, this one was better. It was a lot of fun to watch, and that's coming from someone that isn't a fan of Elton John, and from someone that hates 98% of musicals.

[@sevenandthelittlestmew]

My hairdresser was so frustrated by the terrible hair and makeup in Bohemian Rhapsody that she couldn’t even pay attention to the movie. I told her she didn’t miss anything good.

[@LeeLee19901]

So did i

[@gamepopper101]

Funnily enough, this is actually the THIRD film that Taron Egerton and Elton John have been linked to. Egerton voiced a piano-playing gorilla in the animated film Sing wherein the final act, he performs Elton John's "I'm Still Standing".

[@isaacschmitt4803]

I believe that was cited by the director as *the* reason why he chose him for the role. Which, good reason! Kid's got chops!

[@__jamiwu__]

Also Kingsman Golden Circle where he saves Elton John.

[@koalasandwich567]

Glad I wasn't the only person that noticed that

[@fremenchips]

Fun fact about Long John he also gave Rod Stewart his first break as a background singer for Steam Packet and both Elton and Rod produced Long John's fantastic 1971 album "It ain't Easy"...also Long John was the voice of Dr. Robotnik in the 90's sonic cartoon. The Pingas! quote is Long John.

[@Azaghal1988]

The Movie came with the Tagline "A True Fantasy" and I think it was more ment to capture the emotion of his Life, than being accurate to it.

[@SEAZNDragon]

This reminds me of a series of reviews I've seen on KZbin regarding musicals, especially by Lindsay Ellis, with the main thesis being the best musicals are highly stylistic to deal with the fact people are singing within the world of the story. In an odd way that also helps with the usual issues with historical movies, namely bias and time compression screwing with details.

[@hubertblastinoff9001]

Cypher and Lindsay Ellis should do a collab on a musical some time...

[@BG-ok9wi]

@The Cynical Historian Another thing the movie did mention was his musical influence from Oklahoma native Leon Russell. I was Leon's road manager for awhile, unfortunately I had to leave the road life due to my own medical issues. A few months later Elton reached out to Leon and they decided to create an album together. This project became the album entitled "The Union". HBO did a documentary on the album and Elton goes on to talk about how much Leon influenced and inspired him in his early years. Anyways great video as always!!

[@OhSanjiBoi]

Not gonna lie I thought this was a video on Kim Jung Un. I couldn't see the thumbnail.

[@troodon1096]

I would totally pay money to see a musical called "Rocketman" using Elton John music... but it's about Kim Jung Un.

[@bonkripper77]

Hey man I would highly recommend you checking out a movie called Uprising, it was released in 2001 and it's a movie about the warsaw ghetto uprising, it's an amazing film that's based of a real historical event that gets little to no real coverage and its overshadowed by the warsaw uprising that happened a year after.

[@historicalmistakes8732]

You get a glimpse of it in 'The Pianist' I think.

[@bonkripper77]

@@historicalmistakes8732 yeah you get a small glimpse into it but uprising fully covers the events of the uprising both leading up to, during and after it's such a both amazing and powerful movie.

[@historicalmistakes8732]

@@bonkripper77 I'll have to check it out!

[@CynicalHistorian]

I've been avoiding Holocaust films. The dregs of the internet will show up, and it will definitely get demonetized

[@GameOnRadio1]

The Cynical Historian I can understand that. But I have one for you, Rosewood. It’s a very entertaining movie based on real historical events but heavily fictionalized with an addition of a character that Ving Rhames played that doesn’t exist.

[@ptronic]

I loved how much of a big deal they make about emotional neglect and invalidation, it's a poison our society barely acknowledges

[@ptronic]

And buying someone a piano doesn't mean you made them feel loved

[@libitina27]

@@ptronic exactly... not to mention Bryce Dallas Howard said that she was suspicious of the way they wrote the mother thinking that she couldn't be as bad as Elton said so she got in touch with some people who knew Eltons mother and they all confirmed that his mother was terrible

[@ptronic]

@@libitina27 and all along she's painting herself as the victim

[@davidd.5180]

So early youtube didnt demonetize yet.

[@marcusjackson9076]

Thomas the Tank Engine theme in full please.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

I'd become a Patreon backer if that was a perk.

[@CynicalHistorian]

Ragtime is the most difficult genre of piano music. I got what I wanted on the first take, but I cut out where I fucked up only a stanza later, lol

[@jenniferschillig3768]

I think the inaccuracies are excusable when you consider the movie's main conceit: this is Elton John's life story AS TOLD BY Elton John. So naturally, it's going to be exaggerated or inaccurate in some ways...do we always tell the unvarnished truth about our life stories, or even always remember past events with 100 percent clarity?

[@meddle98]

Honestly all musical biopics should be musicals. Allows for more excusable flagrant alterations for the narrative

[@KwehTheBird]

As a Watfordian, we are particularly proud of our boy Elton. Also, it continues to tickle me to hear "Watford" in a North American accent

[@somthingbrutal]

there is an old british TV series that you might want to take a look at, Riley Ace of Spies based on the life of "Sidney Riley" probably the greatest spy of his age if not all time

[@CynicalHistorian]

I've seen it. It was fun, but not really about the real deal

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

5:33 was waiting for a spit-take :/ 7:52 That's not Gusto, that's his husband David Furnish

[@111oooo]

😂Funny

[@bern1228]

Thank you. I tend to avoid these types of biopics. But with your insight I think I can watch this.

[@JohnnyOTGS]

I should've saw this with my mother as she's a huge Elton John fan, I was lost in a lot of the scenes and had no idea what was going on.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Kevin Spacey did a similar format in Beyond the Sea, a biopic about Bobby Darin. But that was a little more straightforward in its narrative.

[@acetrainerevan]

I’d love to see a Billy Joel biopic, though I’d imagine that the man himself would probably disapprove of it.

[@koalasandwich567]

Same here, a Bono one would be cool as well, idk why but Robert Downey Jr. would be a good Bono I think.

[@lucasoheyze4597]

There's no interesting story with those guys

[@wayanlantela8175]

@@lucasoheyze4597 Why?

[@wayanlantela8175]

Why? Would it called Piano Man or The Piano Man?

[@claireelyse5992]

I’ve seen Bohemian Rhapsody maybe 5 times. I’ve seen Rocketman 10+, even though it came out after. Can’t fault the math! I adore this movie.

[@SunflowerSocialist]

I want a video of cipher playing we didn’t start the fire!

[@nathangale7702]

I can’t believe any pianist would rate Billy Joel over Elton John. They’re both great, but Joel is more of a songwriter while John is an absolute keyboard genius! He’s been my favorite pop keyboardist since I was 13, so yeah, I’m pretty biased.

[@jmac3y]

Ironically enough some of my favorite lyrics from Elton are "I like women and I like wine"

[@CinemaKnight]

I remember my dad telling me about a time when Eric Clapton introduced Elton John in an AA meeting he was in

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

This one kinda reminds me of the composer biopics directed by Ken Russell (THE MUSIC LOVERS, MAHLER, LISZTOMANIA!), who also directed TOMMY - I wonder if Elton John discussed with Unkle Ken the possibility of a movie based on his life decades before...

[@paulcowboy1967]

Just found your channel, terrific stuff. I love history and movies so cannot stop watching. A few ideas for future, War horse, Siege of Jadotville or The Patriot ( Mel Gibson nor Seagal lol ) As said totally enjoyable and interesting channel. All the best Paul

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

Do you have any plans to do a BOATS episode on the documentary film Rogue One?

[@mrquail5299]

Uh, Eltons next hit after don’t go breaking my heart, was song for guy in 1978, then was little Jeannie in 1980, then he had blue eyes in 1982, and then his hit album too low for zero in 83, and the sad songs in 1984, and then Nikita in 1985, and quite a few more before Dont let the sun go down on me with George

[@Amphy002]

You can turn Elton John's life into a fantasy musical if you wish, full of pointless factual inaccuracies as this movie is. But the film unforgivably demonizes Dick James, who is portrayed as a stupid, swearing loud-mouth cockney who only grudgingly supports the artist. The reverse is true, and well-documented: Dick James was a cultivated businessman who nurtured and promoted Elton John as an artist for a long time while his records weren't selling, pouring DJM's money into recording and promoting Empty Sky which did no business. Even throughout the later court cases, Elton John admitted that he had been treated well by the record company. Of course, dead men can't sue for libel, as Dick James' son pointed out after the film's release.

[@buddha4tw]

I really enjoyed this movie, so much fun to watch and it was a depiction that was warts and all, the musical segments were the highlight for me and I don't like musicals.

[@FangAzi]

Will you do the recent movie Midway?

[@CynicalHistorian]

It's already recorded

[@FangAzi]

Nice, can't wait for it

[@CynicalHistorian]

@Thorne accurate, but didn't pick their battles

[@believemeimherman4319]

Hey cypher, I was watching one of your old videos recently (I believe the New Vegas Shooting Conspiracy) and I wanted to know something. What is you opinion on the Waco Siege Incident?

[@CynicalHistorian]

I have an entire video on that actually: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6urnKSmaMpkoJI The recent TV mini-series was actually really good

[@chonchjohnch]

You’ve sold me on this movie tbh

[@ehrldawg]

He was friends with Rush Lindbaugh (R.I.P.)

[@lordtrigon1733]

His music was never my cup of tea but I give the man credit for appearing on what is likely Ozzy Osbourne's final album despite the fact that Ozzy bit his head off on Celebrity Deathmatch in the 90's.

[@patrickblanchette4337]

Rocketman is also better then Bohemian Rhapsody because it doesn't push John's sexuality off to the side like Bohemian Rhapsody does with Freddie.

[@samtownend6744]

John didn't exactly write Billy Elliot the Musical, it was adapted from the 2000 film Billy Elliot

[@Koala1203]

Can you do a review on film The Bounty (1984) about the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty.

[@iampedro101]

I watched this film 4 times in theaters...

[@AngusStewart01]

One of the best bio pics

[@nittanyburg20]

You should do a video on Andersonville (1996)

[@thepretentiousplayer4017]

Are you going to do the Irishman?

[@Z-Mikes00]

im really surprised this film isnt talked about more

[@Eamonshort1]

Hey Cy posted this in you LBJ review but thats older and I was late to it but I really wanted your opinion so I'm asking in your latest video, I hope igs not poor form or rude to ask about something not in the video being commented on but here goes: "I know I'm late for you to see this but seeing as you speak of HBOs historical accuracy in its film and mini-series department have you seen what i think is HBOs best miniseries (not just historical but in general including things like Chernobyl and Band of Brothers) Generation Kill? Given your service background I'm curious what you think as from what I've heard from other servicemen its a more accurate representation of the service and of servicemen than the highly praised Jarhead (which to be clear i loved) and far far more accurate than the standard fare of things like American Sniper"

[@scrambled5948]

I hope one day someone makes an oasis biopic

[@lucasoheyze4597]

That'll be an embarrassing watch 😆

[@Nailspeed]

If you get a chance do try another musical bio - the russian film Leto by Kirill Serebrennikov. Altho' the musicians might be rather obscure in the west, their music is amazing(and familiar) and the film itself is near flawless(but that's a matter of taste i guess). You can easily find a trailer for it 'round youtube. Thanks for the great video(as always) and all the best!

[@foxyshabazz]

Dexter Fletcher directed this? Blimey, didn't know that. I remember him from Press Gang, and as a little kid in Bugsy Malone. Oh, and Band of Brothers. If I once knew he was a director I had forgotten it. A quick look on Wikipedia and I find out he directed Sunshine on Leith, too, the Proclaimers Jukebox musical. That wasn't bad.

[@gardenhose3509]

Check out the 2004 Cole Porter Biopic. It's very similar structurally. Just from an afterlife angle instead of a rehab meeting. I'd be interested in your appraisal of that.

[@handsomelyerin]

You should watch Coco Before Chanel, about the fashion designer. It would be interesting to see you cover a fashion biopic!

[@mathieuleader8601]

I mean this as no disrespect but at time Elton John with his clothing looks like Chris-Chan

[@KhayJayArt]

>:(

[@NewhamMatt]

I heard the Thomas the Tank Engine theme and just started shouting "YES!" at the screen.

[@theshenpartei]

He voiced himself in one episode South Park you forget to mention that

[@CynicalHistorian]

forgetting and choosing are different things

[@TheHoagie13]

*"Don't Let THE sun go down on me"* hmm? NOT to replace "the" with "YOUR", correct??

[@RobKandell]

Keith Emerson isn't your favorite? :-)

[@-haclong2366]

I'm also a sucker for musicals.

[@commentcopbadge6665]

This movie blows the mediocre and wayyyy overrated Bohemien Rhapsody out of the ocean. Though I love both Queen and Elton musically, actually I can admit that I do love Queen a lot more, there's no comparison who's got the better biopic.

[@appo365]

i really enjoyed this movie tbh

[@mathieuleader8601]

my father before he retired was a chauffeur he had fish and chips with Elton John

[@jx6135]

I think you would like the film Across the Universe

[@m3xdjc635]

i never knew he wrote billy elliot. damn

[@wassupwo]

Fun video!

[@chonchjohnch]

Thomas the rank engine fucking slams

[@diggs5142]

Hoping this video will *takeoff* (insert laugh track)

[@liamtahaney713]

Ooof imagine if his name was Dwight forever. That would have been weird

[@KhayJayArt]

Reginald Dwight Reggie D

[@niccage6375]

Could you do jersey boys?

[@tmac5962]

When are you reviewing Downfall?!?!

[@hubertblastinoff9001]

I wouldn't touch that movie with a ten foot pole

[@littleferrhis]

10:55 *Jersey Boys has left the chat*

[@callanhutchison1871]

Dewey Cox rules

[@Luke-cb3ub]

Review born on the fourth of July

[@ethanmull6476]

so is it like the wall

[@Z-Mikes00]

You should do a based on a true story for downfall

[@AlbinoAxolotl1993]

Do a video on Amadeus.

[@ghyuty17]

1:07

[@aldiun16]

Stumbled into this channel and I find a history teacher playing meme songs. Normies beware you don't want any part of this shit.

[@hosank]

Can you stop beating around the bush and just review the ultra-authentic biopic Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox sorry already? Jeezzzz

[@mrtrampandhiscat]

Neverbuythesun

[@scifience8297]

please do a video on the history of anarchism

[@highwind1991]

Bohemian Rhapsody was literally a piece of shit movie. Rocketman was a blast. Your comment about Billy Joel and Elton John hurt a little lol. I grew up obsessing over Elton John and Billy Joel I just never cared much for

[@Ma_ksi]

Hi gamers

[@talpark8796]

Whatever

[@Ycjedi]

I'm sorry to disagree, but this movie was drizzling shit.

[@doggiesarus]

I hated this. It was totally inaccurate, and also made his history into a self absorbed pity party.