Review of 'Elton John: Never Too Late': A heartfelt retrospective on a storied musical journey
Elton John's latest documentary, "Elton John: Never Too Late," premiering on Disney+ on December 13, offers a polished, archival look at the early years of the legendary musician's career. Co-directed by David Furnish, John's husband, and R.J. Cutler, known for Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry, the film builds towards John's farewell shows at Dodger Stadium in November 2022.
However, critics have noted that the documentary does not fully capture John's complex personality, falling short of the mark set by Furnish's earlier film about John, "Tantrums and Tiaras" (1997). That documentary, a more personal, behind-the-scenes account of John's 1997 world tour, offered a rawer and more immediate glimpse into the musician's life.
Never Too Late uses the same audio recordings from John's 2019 autobiography's ghostwriter interviews, providing a solid recap of John's '70s imperial phase. The documentary explores his rapid ascent, prolific album releases, and complex personal struggles, including his sexuality and drug issues. It also connects these past events with his present-day touring life, such as his Dodgers stadium concert.
Despite not fully capturing John's mix of insecurity, impatience, talent, ambition, and tremendous generosity, Never Too Late serves as a respectful and tender bookend to John's incredible performing career. The film does drive home that before he became the grande dame of pop, John was a trailblazer who took superstardom to a new level.
John's life story was previously portrayed in the 2019 movie Rocketman, and his memoir, published five years ago, includes A-list celebrity anecdotes. In a recent turn of events, John has revealed that he has lost his eyesight, adding pathos to the film.
Elton John returned to the Troubadour, a venue he played in 1970, 50 years later and found it to be a small dive bar. This moment in the documentary serves as a poignant reminder of John's incredible journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of superstardom.
In summary, Elton John: Never Too Late is a reflective, career-spanning look at the early period of Elton John's fame with a polished narrative style, whereas Tantrums and Tiaras is more of an intimate, fly-on-the-wall tour documentary from a specific era. While Never Too Late may not fully capture the complexity of Elton John's personality, it offers a valuable glimpse into the early years of the pop icon's career.
- Elton John's career transitioned from playing small venues like the Troubadour in 1970, as depicted in the documentary, to headlining packed stadium concerts, a journey mirroring the evolution from rock to pop music.
- When it comes to music documentaries, the lifestyle and persona of Elton John have been portrayed in two distinct ways - the polished, career-spanning look in "Elton John: Never Too Late" and the more personal, behind-the-scenes account of his world tour in "Tantrums and Tiaras."
- Elton John's captivating journey from unknown artist to a pop icon has also extended into movies and television, as his life story was explored in the biopic Rocketman and his memoir includes anecdotes from A-list celebrities.
