Misc-en-scene in Rocketman - November 3, 2020
I chose to comment on the misc-en-scene of Elton John, David Furnish, Matthew Vaughn, and others' film, entitled Rocketman. I chose the movie, because it is one of my favorite movies of all time. The movie is based on the life of Elton John, and as most people know, his life and style was very eccentric. This made the movie costumes elaborate, the scenery intricate, and the movie very interesting to evaluate overall in terms of misc-en-scene.
The movie begins with the doors of a rehab center slamming open. The aspect of this scene that makes it so impressive definitely the costume. Elton' silhouette is black in contrast to bright white light behind him, and the outline of his costume including large horns, big wings, and heeled boots are highly distinguishable. The costume and bright, contrasting back-light made the scene so powerful. They reflected Elton's surreal personality and style, as if he transcended normal people. As he powerfully walks down the hallway, the importance lies more with what falls off of the costume, rather than what is directly included in it. Elton's journey through rehab is seen throughout the movie, as he tells his story from the facility, staring from the moment he entered it in his brilliant, bright orange, and bedazzled, devil-like costume. As he begins to reveal more about who he is beneath his spotlight facade, he rips off pieces of his costume like the foam horns, or hat attachment that held them. Towards the end of the movie, he is seen with completely different and casual attire, although it still has a hint of sparkle, it reflects his success in rehab. Before these major changes occur, you can already start to see this process unfold when he first walks in the hallway of the care facility. Sparkles and feathers fall to the floor, as he walks to the room with the help group inside. These reflect the beginning of Elton's life changing realization and embrace of who he is, rather than who everyone wants him to be.
Another crucial detail in this movie lies in the different setting seen throughout the film. Elton's childhood takes part in the fifties, and although it isn't explicitly stated, is noticeable based on the setting of both the neighborhood and house he lived in. The costume also alludes to the era, but the most noticeable features are seen in the setting. The street is lined with similar houses, with white picket fences on a cloudy day, as most in England. The decorations, and bleak wall colors, resembled the average post-war suburban house. Suitably, Elton's dad was also serving in the military, so he lived with his mother and another elderly woman. The vacuum cleaner is not yet electrically power, and rolls across the floors as his mother uses it in a scene, demarcating yet another common utility seen in the fifties. Later on, this setting provides a stark contrast to Elton's ornate Los Angeles Mansion.
The lighting in Rocketman varies greatly, depending on the scene, and mood of the main character, Elton John. In the opening musical number, the lighting is high-key and incredibly bright. As seen in the picture above, although the garb and setting is faded in color, compared to Elton's clothing, the lighting is incredibly bright and illuminating. The musical number is upbeat, so the high- key lighting which is often seen in musicals, is fitting. In another scene, where Elton makes his first big performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, the state lighting is low-key. Although the most musicals and musical numbers are seen in high-key, this lighting reflects the dark setting of the nightclub. The bright spotlights shine from above, with a blue neon light stating Troubadour, is seen behind Elton and his piano. The lighting allows the feeling of the night club to be consistent in the scene, while creating a focus on Elton on the stage.
The staging in this movie was also a critical part in its masterful composition. I really appreciated how Elton's success in the movie industry was reflected by his place on the stage, and in front of the audience. As he begins to become more popular, you also see his platform become much larger and higher above the crowd. The crowd size also grows, until the climactic concert in the Dodgers stadium, where Elton sings the famous, career defining, Bennie and the Jets.
Overall, I love everything about this movie. From the historical accuracy and detail of the costumes, to the camera angles, cast, and musical choices, I feel that the producers made a truly moving flim.
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