Elvis

Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr., David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Luke Bracey Dace Montgomery, Alton Mason
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Music
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) rises to fame and fortune, while Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) pulls the strings behind-the-scenes.

Review:

Tim: Baz Luhrmann is certainly a stylish director. His Moulin Rouge is one of my all-time favorite musical movies. He's made other good movies, but certainly nothing to that extent. Elvis is really the perfect vehicle for him- he's able to tell a larger-than-life story, bring forth his trademark style and frenetic energy, and amplify the drama as well. While this movie doesn't get close to his masterpiece, it's an exceptionally well made movie that I have to admit, far surpassed my own expectations. This is a truly effective movie that was wildly entertaining throughout it's 2 hour and 39 minute (!) run time. It's one of the better biopics I have seen in recent years. I have some faults with it, but those are all minor. This is a truly successful film.

The movie does a good job of telling the broad story of Elvis' life, especially in regards to his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. That's really the heart of the movie, the manipulative relationship and control Parker had over the biggest star in the world. Everything else is somewhat secondary. I understand that's the focus of the film, but I did wish other aspects of the movie were amplified more. For example, they never really explore the genius of Elvis' music. Yes, they spend a lot of time talking about his unique influences, but how did he craft so many brilliant, enduring songs? Was it just him? Did he have help? I still had those questions at the end. They explore some of his troubles with the law, but I thought there was room for further exploration there. His family gets some decent screen time, but they aren't the main focus, either. It's funny to talk about a movie that's incredibly long (very surprisingly so), and yet be able to rattle off several areas that needed to be explored in more detail. Luhrmann had to make cuts somewhere, so I don't fault the movie too much for this.

I thought Austin Butler was fantastic as Elvis. I don't know if anyone would be able to perfectly capture this iconic talent, but I can't imagine who could get closer than Butler. I don't know anything about Butler- I recognize him from one movie. After this film, though, he's firmly on my map. He gives a career-making performance, one I don't think I will ever forget. Whatever else he does in his career, he'll always have this remarkable, pitch perfect performance in his filmography. Butler steps into the role so brilliantly- from his singing, his dancing, the tone and tenor of his voice. He acts brilliantly opposite the rest of the cast, he completely owns the movie. That's one of the keys to this film's success. It required an absolute showstopping performance and it gets that from Butler. I just didn't expect him to be so good.

If you've read any of my reviews over time, you know Tom Hanks is my all-time favorite actor. The guy is a standout talent, one of the greatest of all time. Here, he delivers another exceptional performance. It's an odd role for him, but I applaud Hanks for breaking out of his usual roles. Here, he's the manipulative con artist Tom Parker. He has a large role in the film, and the movie is better for it. I didn't always love his accent, but Hanks elevates the material significantly. His Tom Parker is obviously the villain of the film, but he never plays him like that. He brings layers to the character and you begin to understand his motivations as the film wears on. I'll never fully get used to the prosthetics and the fat suit, but overall, I enjoyed Hanks' performance in the film. It was a delight to see him and Butler interacting on screen. Hanks definitely makes this movie better. Olivia DeJonge gives a strong performance as Priscilla, but I felt like she didn't get enough screen time. She was so effective in the role, she needed more to do. I like Kelvin Harrison Jr. and it was fun seeing him as B.B. King, but again, he's in the background too much. Strong performance, though. It was fun seeing Kodi Smit-McPhee and David Wenham in smaller roles in the beginning of the movie. Their parts are very small and never come back after the initial scenes, but they made an impact. I also enjoyed Dacre Montgomery's performance- it shows he has solid range, in a very different role than he played on Stranger Things.

I thought Luhrmann did an effective job of weaving in real life events with some that are obviously fabricated for the sake of the film. Those are mostly recognizable and they do move the story forward. I was much more interested in the real events, though. The one that stands out the most is the Comeback Special. I'd never even heard of that before this film, and I was transfixed by everything that occurred during that. It's one of the stronger sequences of the film and amazing that it's true. I also really appreciated the insight into Elvis' residency at the International. Again, I didn't know much about that part of his life. I felt like the movie did a mostly effective job of showcasing some of these big moments in Elvis' career.

Elvis is definitely one of the strongest biopics in recent memory. Luhrmann directs the film with energy and pizzazz. It's never quite great- it comes in just below that level, but it's exceptionally well made and while long, it's compelling. This is absolutely one of the most pleasant surprises of 2022 and I hope it's a contender for several Academy Awards (including Costume Design). This is one of the big successes of the year and I hope it's recognized for that.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Moulin Rouge, Cloud Atlas, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood