Elton John: It's Never Too Late Review

Elton John: It's never too late
pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest names in pop and rock, highlighting his career and struggles in wonderful detail. While many documentaries and biopics feature a stylized version of the subject's own voice, this documentary uses recordings and interviews with Elton John himself to take a closer look at his decades-long career and the star's stunning rise and challenging fall. passed through the circle of life.

Where Elton John: It's never too late What differs from other documentaries about the iconic musician is the fact that it chooses two points in his career, one near the beginning and one at the end, and paints a picture of how one leads to the other. John speaks through recordings, providing his own insights, and the editing paints a picture of acceptance, growth, love, loss, and learning. But overall, it conveys the message that anything is possible when you follow your dreams and overcome setbacks.

Elton John in his own words

Elton John confesses that he himself is not a lyricist and that his nervous and introverted nature comes across in his interviews, despite decades of playing sold-out shows and being a very public-facing musician. Even with shaky nerves and waning confidence, it's great to hear John talk about his career and the life he's led, warts and all. Elton John attributes much of his success to luck, having found the perfect writing partner in Bernie Taupin, his longtime musical collaborator and lyricist. But the fact is that Elton is a resilient man, who created opportunities and pursued his dreams.

While it hasn't always been easy, Elton is able to clearly relate his journey from a scared boy searching for approval and affection to the loving father and husband he is today, through a medium he has always been able to channel with incredible proficiency. Elton is a music man, with an incredible talent for creating intricate melodies and soundscapes that convey emotion and atmosphere, resonating with listeners everywhere.

Elton John: It's never too late also explores his early shows, when he opened for iconic artists during the 1960s and 1970s, and how this led to an explosion in popularity when he finally brought his music to the United States. The film uses his performances at Dodgers Stadium, both in 1975 and 2022, to chart his career and explore how challenges in his personal and professional life took him on an unforgettable journey and helped him find himself.

An Elton John story told in two parts

The documentary's framing deftly relies on Elton's shows at Dodgers Stadium to illustrate the enormous growth, success, and changes in his career. In the present, the documentary speaks face-to-face with Elton in the months leading up to his last US show, as he returns to Dodgers Stadium, where he played a pivotal show in 1975. When the documentary returns, it examines the early years of his career leading up to this iconic show.

In the first few decades, it's clear that Elton is on a journey and struggling to find his way despite massive success. Challenges in his romantic life, challenges in accepting his own identity and being accepted for who he is, all result in a young Elton working to accept his success and find peace or happiness. Even in the moments leading up to this iconic 1975 show, Elton faces some of the biggest struggles of his life and it's heartbreaking to watch.

Meanwhile, the modern scenario reveals an Elton who has found the answers. He finds what he's looking for in his children, his partner, his friends and his music, but he doesn't carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. This hopeful and insightful look at the life of such an icon creates a beautiful and inspiring story that stands out from start to finish.

Elton John: It's never too late will be available to stream on Disney+ on December 13th. The film is 102 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for drug material, strong language, sexual references, thematic material including suicide, and smoking.