Elvis

In the first half of Elvis, emphasis is placed on, among other things, the rebellious Elvis’s clashes with the censorship board, which considers his gyrations to be obscene, whereas the second half focuses primarily on Presley’s conflicts with the people close to him, whose expectations he either refuses to meet on principle or, to his own disappointment, he is unable to meet. A running theme throughout the film consists in Elvis’s steadfast effort to preserve his own exceptional personal and musical identity, which is the only key to the artist’s success and immortality. The charismatic Austin Butler, a gifted singer in his own right, is absolutely excellent in the title role. He is not only able to captivate without batting an eye during the fantastically filmed musical numbers, but he also manages to naturally and sensitively convey a broad range of emotions even in the quieter moments. Most of the supporting and peripheral roles are also well cast according to type. Of course, the great Tom Hanks has the most space in the film as Presley’s manager and as the narrator, who in his commentary repeatedly tries to convince us that he always meant well by his charge, but his actions, captured by his image, tell us the opposite is true. His perspective as an unreliable narrator naturally complements Elvis’s perspective and the film is based substantially on the transformations of their friendship and family/business relationship. The story adheres to a precisely rhythmized structure, in which Elvis’s performances always comprise the climax of individual segments and time periods. Director Baz Luhrmann does his best work since Moulin Rouge and he also excels as a phenomenal audio-visual storyteller and master of the edited montage, who needs only a few two-second shots and appropriate musical backing to instantly capture the right mood of the given moment, setting and circumstance with unparalleled brilliance. In the genre of biopics about music legends, Elvis is a gem that presents its title character in many different situations and styles, engages your interest regardless of whether or not you know his life story and songs, and simply cannot conceal the identity of its director thanks to Luhrmann’s many recognizable trademarks and filmmaking techniques. From the opening scene onwards, it is an audio-visually riveting and engaging film that demands to be seen on the big screen. (06/24/2022)

Elvis is an enjoyable musical biopic that doesn't bring much new under the sun in terms of plot and slightly alters key events to build a somewhat better drama around them, but its main asset is of course Baz Luhrmann's idiosyncratic directorial grasp and especially the committed performance of Austin Butler, who manages to completely connect with the character of Elvis from the first minutes. Who failed to blend into the character, however, and who sticks out like a sore thumb in the film, is Tom Hanks. It's kind of a matter of whether you accept his peculiar efforts, but I simply didn't believe for the entire two and a half hours that I was seeing Colonel Tom Parker, but rather just Hanks overacting under a layer of prosthetics. Baz Luhrmann doses his hyperstylisation sometimes unnecessarily too much and his choice of the accompanying soundtrack, or rather modern music genres, in a story about the king of rock 'n' roll, I would in all fairness call at least questionable. In any case, and despite these distractions, the film works and offers a truly spectacular experience, which is worth seeing if possible on the big screen. For me, slightly mixed satisfaction. (07/01/2022)

An energetic romp until the overweight, stoned ending. Baz Luhrmann piles up opulent shots, attractive camera fly-overs and the remixed and reimagined Elvis hits in the background pull you into the story immediately. Hanks’ unreliable narrator, denying any responsibility for the King’s stagnation and eventual decay, is an unlikeable, calculating bastard. His typical economic dodging, the merchandise scene and the corporate over-emphasis on security are the essence of everything that is bad about today’s world and Tom "America’s boy next door" Hanks lays it on us with great verve. Austin Butler is uncompromising and dedicated as Elvis, very faithfully copying his expressive dancing style; Feyd-Rautha is in good hands. The story follows a classic rise and fall pattern, while also going up interesting side roads, whether it is the luck of a white kid who was lucky enough to grow up in a better and all-round righter (black) environment. The timing of the premiere of this movie at the end of a PROUD month is a master stroke straight out of the Colonel’s textbook, the parallels are crystal clear. And Parker’s efforts to keep the King away from politics, family rows, disintegration of marriage, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. But it never runs on the spot. A most quality memorial to a legend. (07/03/2022)

A great film, I certainly didn't expect a flop. It was clear from the first trailer that this was going to be a powerful, emotional, charged and entertaining spectacle that might even go for the Oscars. Austin Butler as Elvis is great, Tom Hanks is unrecognizable but also excellent, the music is of course awesome (all the performances are great), the dialogues are good, and the story managed to surprise several times. There was also the traditional troubles that belong to rising stars like the looming jail time. However I'm a bit sorry that the film isn’t R-rated, and there was no room for drugs and a bit of that wild nightlife, but probably the makers just wanted to show it in the best light. I'd fault the longer running time, but otherwise solid. 8/10. (06/27/2022)

Two and a half hours of visual debauchery where the editor, the cinematographer and the director's specific signature reign supreme. However, when it comes to the emotional level, with the exception of a few moments, the film only touches the surface. Luhrmann doesn't know how to work well with characters and their personal motivations and emotions, which, among others, was also problem in The Great Gatsby and other films of his. As an homage to Elvis, it is alright, as a proper viewer experience, not so. In this, Elvis is beaten by the romantic A Star Is Born. (10/30/2022)