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: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o-h1jeGUH7M.html 0:45 - Newsies: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dcJT70WTtqU.html 6:35 - Bohemian Rhapsody: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o-h1jeGUH7M.html 10:40 - Greatest Showman: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7PczCJxeXdw.html
*References* _Elton John: Me Myself and I,_ directed by James Strong, Independent Television, 22 September 2007, accessed 6 January 2020: ru-vid.com/group/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
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
This reminds me of a series of reviews I've seen on RU-vid 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.
@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!!
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 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.
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 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
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
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?
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
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...
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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"
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?
I have an entire video on that actually: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-izHkqp3e1j0.html The recent TV mini-series was actually really good
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.
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