after expansion elvis Warner Bros. Pictures’ 2022 CinemaCon Panel, I. The trailer premiered during tweeted: “Calling it now – #Elvis will elevate Austin Butler to superstar status.” I stuck to that announcement after additional footage was dropped, and I continued to feel justified with my initial appreciation of Butler after watching the gorgeous musical-driven play. (I hate eating crows so I’m very happy to be proven right.)
writer/director Baz Luhrmann elvis It is a story of good versus evil with no middle ground. Elvis, of course, is the good in this equation and Colonel Tom Parker (played by Oscar winner Tom Hanks) is the evil. Luhrmann does not allow any colored character to exit their designated box. Elvis is portrayed as a decent man struggling to make a living in the limelight, while Parker doesn’t have a single redeeming quality.
Is Moulin Rouge Will the director’s interpretation appropriately affect Elvis’ relationship with Parker? Yes, according to a source, that was originally the front row seat for this fight between the prisoner and his corrupt manager/jailer. The love of Elvis’ life, Priscilla Presley, wrote on social media, “This is a true story told in a brilliant and creative way that only the Eagles could deliver in their unique artistic way.”
It is the sad story of a talented young man who grew up in poor filth, fell in love with gospel music, and became a movie star/music icon driven to an early death by a greedy, opportunistic liar. elvis Presley’s youth in Tupelo, MS, touches on his close relationship with his beloved mother, and his father’s run-in with the law. The teen years of the future rock star shows how the groundbreaking performer became the star of female audiences’ dreams and the nightmare of executives who viewed her hip and pelvic thrusts as criminally provocative.
Told with lots of glare, the film focuses on the relationship between Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker and often ignores or glosses over some of the most interesting tours of Elvis’ long, groundbreaking career. Even at a long 159-minute run, there’s so much story left to say that it feels like not making a trilogy — or at least a two-parter — is a real missed opportunity.
Austin Butler’s incredible, mesmerizing performance as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will help bring a new generation of fans into the Elvis Presley fold. Butler was so fully involved in the performance, still channeling popular entertainment with such dedication that it’s a shame that audiences wouldn’t have much of an opportunity to see him adapt on screen. Butler gives a sexually charged, raw performance and the meticulousness she took in capturing every nuance of the larger-than-life artist is evident in every frame.
Tom Hanks rarely gets to play second-fiddle at this stage in his career, but he yields gracefully elvis Spotlight on Butler. Obviously, the performances of both Hanks and Butler are central to the film’s success, but Butler is the one who outshines the more experienced actor. There are a few scenes in which Hank’s accent feels forced, but that doesn’t really detract from his scintillating performance as a carnival show Barker becomes the mustache-twisting villain.
Olivia DeJong looks like a young Priscilla Presley and she does a great job of capturing the initial sweetness and innocence of the couple’s relationship through her eventual demise. The genuine chemistry between DeJonge and Butler helps bridge the big gaps in the story of their relationship.
We can expect to hear cinematographer Mandy Walker and production designers Katherine Martin and Karen Murphy during awards season. elvis It is a feast for the eyes and their work is absolutely stunning.
Luhrmann is a brilliant showman and with elvis It is a perfect combination of subject and filmmaker. His scintillating tribute to the iconic artist is at its best when Austin Butler is seen on stage, lending his body to the music, and convincing the audience that Elvis hasn’t left the building yet.
grade A
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Substance Abuse, Harsh Language, Smoking, and Suggestive Content
Running Time: 159 Minutes
Release date: June 24, 2022
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJong, Dacre Montgomery, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Calvin Harrison Jr., David Wenham, Helen Thomson, Xavier Samuel and Chadden Jay
