Photoplay Prospectus

“You’ll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use” – I’m Still Standing by Bernie Taupin & Elton John

I enjoyed this biopic of Sir Elton John’s life. I grew up listening to his music, but never really knew his story until now. The movie begins with Elton (Taron Egerton) storming into a room that I originally thought was the backstage of a show. He is dressed in an orange and red bedazzled devil costume with accompanying horns. But then he sits down it in a circle of chairs during an NA meeting and starts discussing his life. Thoughtful way to set up the plot to enable him to talk about his life up until a present point. I liked the symbolism of him casually taking off pieces of the devil costume throughout the movie as he discusses his own demons. Perhaps this is also to show a passage of time? There was not a lot of hand holding when it came to the passage of time or places in this movie. In fact, the viewer is often jumping from a show to a hotel room in a dreamy haze from John’s perspective. It was nice to end the movie on what felt like an eighties music video to his song “I’m Still Standing”, showing that he overcame is substance use disorder and he is, in fact, still standing.

One of my favorite scenes was in the beginning of the movie, when was he was still a young Reginald Dwight. He steps through a fence and into his adulthood and is all of a sudden in a carnival with one of the best choreographed scenes in the movie. And shortly after, he meets what will be his songwriting partner, who he never fights with , Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). Their friendship is something I aspire to have someday.

A small part of this movie that really resonated with me on a personal level is the love of his grandmother. She is the one who encourages that he gets piano lessons and demonstrates her love for him through simple acts of being there. His mother is shallow and his father is cold. Both neglectful of him in regards to showing him any positive emotion. And it broke my heart when he asked his father, “When will you hug me?” And his father replied, “Don’t be soft.” I was thankful that his grandmother was there for him unconditionally, even if the movie didn’t really emphasize on how important that probably was for him.

I haven’t watched a biopic in a while and know that they are not completely factual in their telling of past realities. But, what this one may lack in truth was made up by the mesmerizing, grandiosity of being a showman that let us feel the emotions rather that the logic. And one of my favorite lines of the movie was when his past self as a child confronts his present self and asks, “When are you going to hug me?”

And now I am inspired to attempt to learn a few songs on the piano. Wish me luck.

– A

“It’s like Groundhog Day but for millennial burnout” – Joshua Rivera, The Verge

I LOVE this movie. I love the dance scene with Nyles (Andy Samberg) within the first 10 minutes of the movie, signalling that he’s been at this moment a thousand times before and does not give a shit if he embarrasses himself. It just so happens that in one of his endless replays of November 9, Sarah (Cristin Milioti) follows him into a cave that enables her to relive her sister’s wedding day over and over again, as Nyles has for Lord knows how long.

Side notes – I love the character transformation of Roy (J.K. Simmons) by the end of the movie, despite not really seeing him that much throughout it. I just love J.K. Simmons in any role he plays. Been a fan since he played J.J. Jameson in the early 2000’s Spiderman trilogy. I’m glad there was an added scene towards in the end where we learn who Sarah left the voicemail for and that Roy may in fact get to see his kids grow older. Honestly, this whole movie could have been a miniseries. The idea of being in a time loop leaves potential and a lot to unpack for any character involved in the endless saga. How do they grapple with this idea? We don’t really get to see Nyles or Roy confront those around them who aren’t stuck on the same day forever. It had to have been harder for Nyles versus Sarah, who had Nyles telling her the ins and outs of how this works after thousands of experimentations himself.

By the end of the movie, Sarah is fed up with everything and actually finds a way out of an endless time loop by studying quantum physics and was willing to go by herself and leave Nyles behind because he kind of wanted to be stuck in the hell of being in a time loop forever. After all, knowing you can do almost anything without aging or dying does have its pros.

Also in the beginning of the movie, we catch a glimpse of the goat who *I think* Sarah uses to figure out that they can all live to see November 10 after all.

Is her grandma caught in the time loop, too? One of the last scenes in the movie suggests it, or maybe the comment can actually be chalked up to her going to many weddings in her lifetime.

All in all, this movie is refreshing and intriguing for a rom-com nowadays, especially during this pandemic where some days feel like the day before without all the extravagance and inability to fuck up and start over the next day. I know the plot of a time loop has been done before, but I enjoyed watching Sarah’s and Nyles’s concepts of life unfold into something more than that the idea of life is meaningless and everyone is essentially alone. That doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of life with someone who is truly a good partner for you, right?

– A

Can you name the last ten movies you watched this year? I could probably name the last three, but I often times find myself forgetting memorable movies. I can leave a theater in complete awe of a movie’s brilliance and then what? I might buy it someday, or better yet, critique it with the person next to me for the next hour. But then, it eventually slips to the back of my mind, only to be occasionally and vaguely remembered.

I’ve never written a blog before, so I’m beginning to find this process mundane. Oh well. Just gonna see where it takes me.

“”You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take – Wayne Gretzky” — Michael Scott”