Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Rocketman (2019) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Abstract

In this RIFF article, the author provides a contextual discussion of two widely publicized music biopics, Rocketman (2019) about Elton John, and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) about Queen. The films portray the life and careers of similarly canonized popular music artists and, through a blending of nostalgia and escapism, each film invokes popular music as a vehicle for personal transformation. Alison Blair explores how these films apply different storytelling devices to offer historical and contemporary insights into the broader intersection between popular music and sexual politics.