When I heard that a new movie from Baz Luhrmann was on the way sometime back I was very excited and to know that it was about Elvis Presley had me even more excited, so the other day I check out the new film from the Oscar-nominated visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann with the Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “Elvis,” starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks.
The new film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (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).
I was a little daunted by the idea that the film had a big run time of 2h 39m, my first thought was can they get everything in of Elvis’ life in the run time and I should have had doubts as Luhrmann has managed to bring in so much of the life of Elvis Presley with so many parts of history that many may not have known or were unsure of.
But this movie certainly opens your eyes to what Elvis went through during his rise to fame as the King of Rock and Roll, it’s so shocking and emotional to see what the Colonel put him through and kept him back from doing so many things with his career and keeping him back from a world tour all in the aid of Parker’s own want for what he wanted and not really for Elvis to have.
Baz Luhrmann has always had a unique style of filmmaking and thankfully this can be seen in this epic movie, from the style of shooting scenes to the editing etc, all this adds to a very entertaining and enjoyable movie that doesn’t drag along with its almost three-hour runtime.
With any biopic about Elvis, you have to have the music and in this movie, we are treated to the amazing vocal performance of Austin Butler as Elvis, not only does he sound like him during the speaking parts but you would swear you are watching and listing to the real Presley during the musical pieces, damn this kid is good.
We are also treated to the style of music inclusion that we have seen in other Luhrmann movies with older tracks having those modern-day twists to keep you on your toes and to get those toes tapping as well.
To play additional iconic musical artists in the film, Luhrmann cast singer/songwriter Yola as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, model Alton Mason as Little Richard, Austin, Texas native Gary Clark Jr. as Arthur Crudup, and artist Shonka Dukureh as Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton.
The movie looks and sounds stunning with some fantastic cinematography throughout the movie, giving it a real feel of nostalgia for the life of Elvis from his time in the ghetto up to his last big moment in 1977 before he sadly passed away, Austin Butler seamlessly fades into the real Elvis footage of him as the screen changes from full widescreen to the 4:3 ratio that our TV used to be and it looks stunning and it’s rather emotional as well, I remember that day back in 1977 when the news was announced that the King had died and it still touched my emotions during the movie.
The cast in this production is superb with their performances with Austin Butler becoming a re-incarnation of Elvis on the big screen, Tom Hanks is a joy to watch as Colonel Parker even though you do have disdain for him, Richard Roxburgh and Helen Thomas are great as Elvis’ father & mother and I really enjoyed watching David Wenham as Hank Snow.
Elvis is a movie that may not appeal to everyone, but the screening that we went to was almost packed, OK it was of people around my age and older, but I would have to say that with the influence that Elvis has had on so many people in and out of the music business this is a movie that is not only entertaining but also shines a light on the life of one of music’s most remembered artists.
Oscar nominee Luhrmann (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”) directed from a screenplay by Baz Luhrmann & Sam Bromell and Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce and Jeremy Doner, story by Baz Luhrmann and Jeremy Doner. The film’s producers are Luhrmann, Oscar winner Catherine Martin (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”), Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss. Courtenay Valenti and Kevin McCormick executive produced.
The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Mandy Walker (“Mulan,” “Australia”), Oscar-winning production designer and costume designer Catherine Martin (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”), production designer Karen Murphy (“A Star Is Born”), editors Matt Villa (“The Great Gatsby,” “Australia”) and Jonathan Redmond (“The Great Gatsby”), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Thomas Wood (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), music supervisor Anton Monsted (“Australia,” “Moulin Rouge!”) and composer Elliott Wheeler (“The Get Down”).
A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Bazmark Production, A Jackal Group Production, A Baz Luhrmann Film, “Elvis” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Elvis was released nationwide on 24th June 2022 by Warner Bros. Pictures
ELVIS is the King of the Movies
Movie title: Elvis (2022)
Movie description: Elvis is Baz Luhrmann's biopic of Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Date published: July 2, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 39m
Director(s): Baz Luhrmann
Actor(s): Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Summary
Baz Luhrmann has brought us a movie that is certainly one that is going to touch the heart of any music fan and is a must-see movie for anyone that loves the music of Elvis Presley.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
