Elvis
2022 Review Number 6:
Elvis: (Music Biopic/Drama): 57 out of 100: I really wanted to like 'Elvis' just as much as I like the music of Elvis but with Baz Luhrmann at the helm, he may as well have renamed the movie 'Baz' because it's all about him trying to be as flashy and stylish as he can be. It's a biopic that is all about self-indulgence, typical of quite a few of Luhrman's directorial efforts, a case of more style than substance. "Look at how clever I can be" seems to be his mantra.
​
'Elvis' begins in 1997 with Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) near death and recounting his time spent with Elvis Presley (Austin Butler). Flashback to the 1940s and 1950s showing Elvis in his childhood and beginning years of stardom. His family life is centred around his relationships with beloved mother Gladys (Helen Thomson) and his father Vernon (Richard Roxburgh). Elvis then is out of the showbiz scene for two years when he was drafted into the army. Soon he meets his future wife, 14 year old Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge). His fame, along with financial mismanagement by his manager, Tom Parker, eventually lead Elvis to experience the battles which have been well-documented in the past.
​
Two features of Luhrmann's directing style irritated me. I thought I was watching rugby league at times with all those slow motion scenes. At the other end of the irritation scale was the excessive cuts and quick edits, reminiscent of 'Moulin Rouge'. It seemed like I was watching TikTok videos. To me, it was a case of excess in style. Sit in the corner of the front row of the cinema and you might find yourself feeling nauseous. The music used in his soundtrack is also questionable. Including rap and hip hop versions of some of Elvis's songs are huge distractions.
​
Speaking of distractions, Tom Hanks' performance as Dutch born Tom Parker is a blight on his acting resume. From the make up to his accent and the narration to his fat suit, so much focus was on him when the star of the biopic is clearly Elvis. If it wasn't going to be called 'Baz' then it could have also been so easily called 'Tom' or 'Parker'. It really is a shame as Austin Butler is sensational in his breakthrough role. He does some of his own singing in the early Elvis recordings. Even though he doesn't really look like Elvis, his mannerisms and voice make you think you are seeing the real Elvis Presley.
​
Like many biopics, 'Elvis' suffers from trying to cover too much territory. When his mother dies, it pretty much comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Likewise, with his initial meeting with Priscilla. The story and direction don't really allow the viewer to empathise with the characters. While viewing this, I couldn't really care much about what happened to Elvis even though I have thought long and hard about the troubles of his life when watching documentaries about him.
​
It's not all doom and gloom however, with the scenes of Elvis's live performances handled well, making one feel that they are in the audience of an Elvis concert. The atmosphere has been lovingly recreated. As mentioned previously, Austin Butler captures the essence of Elvis and his performance signals a long and fruitful acting career for him. The cinematography, production design and costumes are all assets as well.
​
This is likely to be a box office hit as Baz Luhrmann's direction might polarise critics but the general public usually loves his films. If you are familiar with his films then expect a lot of flashy scenes when a straightforward retelling of the world's most popular solo recording artist would have sufficed. I think I will revisit Elvis Presley's documentaries instead of watching this again.
​
Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham and Kodi Smit-McPhee
(159 mins)
Parental advice: Drug use and coarse language
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBDLRvjHVOY (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Friday 24th June, 2022)
​
For my latest views and reviews, go to this link: https://mlaimlai2.wixsite.com/magical-movie-review
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
