ELVIS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll”, is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energised interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy. Because of this, it’s hardly surprising that a biopic has finally been made that tells his life story.

In Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, Elvis, the life and music of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The story delves into the complex dynamic between Presley and Parker spanning over 20 years, from Presley's rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the most significant and influential people in Elvis's life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge). 

Elvis is directed by Baz Luhrmann who is known for his extravagant and over the top filmmaking in Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby. Because of this, I think that he’s the best choice to make a film about Elvis Presley who, like the director, was known for his energy. By combining Luhrmann’s trademark lively direction with Elvis’ fascinating life story and his iconic and hit songs, the overall result is an unforgettable viewing experience. Obviously, Elvis won’t be enjoyed by everyone as there will be a lot of people who will struggle to enjoy Luhrmann’s unique way of telling Elvis’ story. However, for those, like me, who have enjoyed his aforementioned films will, most likely, enjoy what Luhrmann has created with Elvis. Those looking for a serious and deep insight into Elvis’ personal and private life will be disappointed as the script, which was co-written by Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, Jeremy Doner and Sam Bromell, focuses more on his memorable performances on stage. What the story succeeds in doing is capturing the impact the constant performing had on his health, leading to his death in 1977 at just the age of 42. What’s also most interesting is that the story is told from the point of view of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who tells viewers that he’s not a villain, however, after watching the film, while he did contribute to Elvis’ success, he also contributed to his downfall in the 1970s by forcing him to perform despite the exhaustion felt by the star. Other aspects of Elvis’ life, including his marriage to Priscilla, his acting career and addiction to painkillers, are only hinted at.

Although the film struggles to give a deep exploration into the titular star’s personal life, the strengths of Elvis lie in the impressive performance by Butler who, most recently, delivered a memorable supporting role as Tex in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. For me personally, I knew Butler more for appearing in a family friendly alien invasion comedy, Aliens in the Attic, which was released in 2009. Because of this, when it was first announced that Butler would be portraying Elvis, I was shocked as I still associated him with his appearance in Aliens in the Attic. With his role as Elvis in Luhrmann’s extravagant biopic, Butler, undoubtedly, delivers a career-best performance. Although his performance is sometimes overshadowed by Luhrmann’s style-over-substance way of filmmaking, Elvis is at its best when it’s focusing on Butler’s portrayal of Elvis. It’s a role that could have easily could have come across as a poor imitation, fortunately, Butler avoids this and, by embodying Elvis’ famous dance moves, resembles the iconic rock’n’roll star. I wouldn’t be surprised if Butler receives his first Oscar nomination next year, however, I do think that it’s too early to say. Although there’s no denying that Tom Hanks is one of the greatest actors and has delivered countless memorable performances, his role as Colonel Tom Parker represents one of his weakest as he struggles with the character’s muddled Dutch accent. While it was refreshing to see the likeable Hanks play against type, it’s far from one of his best.

Unsurprisingly, Elvis is at its most entertaining when it’s focusing on Elvis’ energetic performances. During this scenes, it’s easy to see why Elvis Presley became one of the biggest stars in the world. What was most surprising is that, despite finding success worldwide, Elvis was forced to perform shows in Las 

Vegas, with Parker concerned about security issues in countries outside of the United States. However, what’s ironic about his concern is that the US isn’t exactly a safe place either, with the historical deaths of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy and Sharon Tate being referenced. For the many numerous fans of his music who never got to experience any of his live performances, Elvis provides viewers with an alternative with many of his biggest hits, including Suspicious Minds, Burning Love and Jailhouse Rock being performed by Butler as Elvis. While the rock’n’roll icon was known for his provocative and suggestive dance moves, which won him a large number of female fans, it got him intro trouble with the law as they thought that it broke segregation laws. This was another interesting aspect of Elvis’ life story that was, unfortunately, left unexplored. 

While Baz Luhrmann’s energetic direction will divide many, there’s hardly a dull moment to be found in Elvis, which is one of the most unforgettable films of the year and is entirely worth watching for Austin Butler’s impressive performance of the titular King of Rock and Roll.

8/10