Elvis
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Kelvin Harrison
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
Rated: PG-13
When I heard Baz Luhrmann would be directing an Elvis biopic, I was thrilled. Listen, you either get Baz or you don’t and his films just click for me. He has a very distinctive directorial style that is known for kaleidoscopic colors, anachronistic music, and a massive scale. Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby are two of my all-time favorite films. I would argue he’s the perfect director to take on a biopic of Elvis Presley. Elvis was a larger-than-life icon and Luhrmann is sure to make a bold, bombastic, and memorable portrait of the rockstar. That’s exactly what he does with Elvis.
The first act of this film is fast-paced and frenetic. We’re immediately thrown into the action of Luhrmann’s vision as Elvis’ controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) begins to narrate the story. The shiny lights of Las Vegas light up the sky as he prepares to tell the tale of his history as Elvis's manager. It feels like you’re on a rollercoaster as the camera whips at a breakneck pace from one scene to the next visiting Elvis’ childhood in Mississippi, the Gospel music that inspired his sound, and his eventual rise to fame. This act is both dazzling and dizzying. However, the speed of the first act settles down in the second and third acts to explore Elvis’ 68 comeback special and his eventual Vegas residency.
Luhrmann places a huge emphasis on visuals in all of his productions. This is no exception. The entire film is visually striking. Through the production and set design, he makes the audience feel like we’re at an Elvis concert in the center of the hysteria. Costume designer Catherine Martin does an exquisite job bringing Elvis’ iconic wardrobe to the screen with several recreations of his famous looks.
Austin Butler gives the best performance I’ve seen all year, without question. We’ve been in an acting drought recently and he is here to get us out! It’s hard to believe this is the same actor who got his start in Disney shows and teen dramas. Though his short-lived role in iCarly will never be forgotten, this is his Star is Born moment. He plays Elvis from a teenager to his forties changing his vocal style and mannerisms through each decade to completely embody the star. He goes from a shy teenager to a superstar at the height of fame, to a strung-out has-been in Vegas. He has a magnetic energy that brings Elvis alive. It’s truly a sight to behold. The Louisiana Hayride performance, TV special, and Suspicious Minds sequence in particular are standout moments that lead me to believe he could easily be nominated for major awards.
Tom Hanks’ performance here is gonna be divisive. He’s a cartoonish villain as Colonel Tom Parker, lurking around in the shadows donning a very obvious fat suit (and an obsession with the tune “Here Comes Santa Clause”.) That’s pretty much what the Colonel was in real life, a cartoonish con artist who scammed Elvis and his family. It’s Hanks’ accent that is questionable due to the fact that it often sounds overtly German. The Colonel was Dutch but I don’t think his accent was ever this obvious in real life. It’s clear that Luhrmann (not one for subtlety) is attempting to portray Parker as the sole person responsible for Elvis’ downfall. The codependent relationship between Parker and Elvis is something I really didn’t know a ton about before the film. Butler portrays Elvis as a sad boy looking for guidance while Hanks plays the Colonel as a leech clinging to its prey. The Vegas residency sequence of the film is especially upsetting as the Colonel has Elvis trapped like a circus monkey, exploiting him at every turn. It’s a very interesting, yet disturbing dynamic.
The film looks to showcase Elvis’ roots in Gospel, R&B, and Soul. None of that would have been possible without the black artists who inspired him throughout his career. Kelvin Harrison Jr. does a great job as BB King, a friend, and mentor to Elvis. Gary Clark Jr., Shonka Dukureh, and Yolo are great in their roles as Arthur Crudup, Big Mama Thornton, and Sister Rosetta, Gospel and soul singers who inspire Elvis in his formative years.
A film tackling the life of Elvis is a massive undertaking and just one section of his life could easily be turned into a 2-hour movie on its own. However, I do think more time could have been on his relationship with Priscilla Presley. (The film does gloss over how young she was when the two first met.) Olivia DeJonge does great with the role, but their relationship dynamic isn’t explored as much as I expected considering she was such a huge part of Elvis’ life.
At one point in the film, when the Vegas residency has taken a grave toll on his health, Elvis laments, “Nobody’s gonna remember me.” Well, that’s certainly not the case. Elvis is a legend whose musical legacy spans generations. My parents are the reason I grew up hearing Elvis. They both enjoyed his music, especially my mom. She loved Elvis and frequently watched his movies when they played on TV. She was a fan because of her grandmother who loved to listen to his records. During one family trip, we went to see an Elvis impersonator in Helen, Georgia. (You haven’t lived until you’ve seen an Elvis impersonator playing in a town that’s modeled after a Bavarian mountain village.) We laughed, danced, and sang along to the greatest hits.
Unfortunately, my mom is no longer here to see Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. In a strange turn of events, she passed away on August 16th (the same date that Elvis died.) While watching this film, I couldn’t help but think how much I would have loved to see it with her. I will always associate Elvis’ music and films with memories of her. I’m sure everyone has a story of a family member, friend, or loved one who introduced them to Elvis. His legacy has been passed down from generation to generation and the film is a testament to that.
Elvis is a harrowing biopic with a phenomenal lead performance by Austin Butler. Baz Luhrmann’s stylistic flair is on full display with this bold, bombastic, and memorable portrait of the iconic rockstar.
My Rating: 9/10