NERDBOT
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Nerd Culture
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»Movies»Baz Lurhman’s “Elvis” Needs a Little Less Conversation [Review]
    AUSTIN BUTLER as Elvis in Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “ELVIS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Movies

    Baz Lurhman’s “Elvis” Needs a Little Less Conversation [Review]

    The DHKBy The DHKJune 27, 2022Updated:June 27, 20224 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Baz Lurhman’s latest musical epic “Elvis” takes a look at The King himself. The lens through which it approaches the number-one-selling solo artist of all time (to date) is certainly an odd one. Former Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Austin Butler steps into Elvis Presley’s (blue suede) shoes for the flick. However it’s Tom Hanks as Elvis’ corrupt manager, Colonel Tom Parker. 

    TOM HANKS as Colonel Tom Parker in Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “ELVIS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

    Hanks is generally an incredible actor, but not one we’d say is good at disappearing into roles. His affable off-screen personality is often what helps pad his more recent performances. But Parker is a scoundrel for sure, outside of Hanks’s normal repertoire. The film tries to hide him in cheap prosthetics and he puts on a bobo Dracula accent. However it’s not enough to hide that it’s Tom Hanks. What’s stranger is Parker is effectively the narrator of the film. So we’re witnessing Presley’s rise to fame through quite a subjective lens. 

    Butler does a bit of a better job disappearing into the role. He’s not the first (and probably not the most dynamic) person to portray The King of Rock and Roll. He does a decent job of embodying the hip swaying younger era of the King, however. The further along in his career they get, the less believable Butler becomes. Throughout though he does a good job of channeling Elvis’s voice. According to Lurhman, Butler did indeed do the singing. 

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Baz Luhrmann (@bazluhrmann)

    The film follows Elvis’s rise through his downfall. Most of it through the manipulations of Parker. What stood out to us in this rendition of Presley’s tale was the film TRIES to give more credit to the Black artists who inspired Presley at a young age.

    We often forget that Elvis was not in fact a songwriter. Instead, he covered other artist’s songs. He drew particular success with his covering of Black music. This is one of those moments we wish there had been a little less conversation and a little more action on the part of the film. It flirts with Elvis ignoring segregation and supporting Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The film just never really goes…there.

    YOLA as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “ELVIS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

    There’s also no denying it (along with every other biography of Presley) tries to normalize the 10-year age gap between Presley and his eventual wife, Priscilla Presley. He was 24 when they met… she was 14. The film tries to skip ahead in their courtship a bit so she’s not literal jailbait (or at least is vague enough about what age they first show us their interactions). Yes, we know it’s part of their history. But it doesn’t feel like something we should be getting away with glamourising in 2022. 

    Let’s be honest- the best part of the film is the music. As we said, Butler does a good job interpreting the songs. There are some fun remixes. It’s the same driving force that continues to draw countless people to janky Elvis impersonator shows in Vegas. His music was damn good. 

    The film also feels like it doesn’t want to villainize anyone too much. Even though it lays out step by step the ways Parker was royally screwing over Elvis, it doesn’t feel like it satisfyingly rakes him over the coals. Additionally, Elvis feels a passive character in a film about … him. 

    We’d have preferred if the film had cut down about 30 min from the somewhat bloated 2 hour 30 min run time. If it had done so and had been willing to present the story in a less sterile feeling way it could have been something really special. Instead it’s just a decent time, but a better soundtrack. 

    Baz Lurhman’s “Elvis” also stars Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Luke Bracey, Natasha Basset, David Wenham, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Samuel, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. It’s out in theaters now.

    Author

    The DHK
    The DHK

    Mohawked marathoner, film fanatic, interviewer of interesting individuals. Host of the We're Watching What?! Podcast and can be found at facebook.com/thedhkmovies

    View all posts

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleJim Henson Creature Shop Built “My Neighbor Totoro” Stage Puppets
    Next Article Stephen King Reveals Only Movie He Ever Walked Out On
    The DHK

    Mohawked marathoner, film fanatic, interviewer of interesting individuals. Host of the We're Watching What?! Podcast and can be found at facebook.com/thedhkmovies

    Related Posts

    60

    “The Flash” Delivers Tasty-Yet-Empty Calories [Review]

    June 6, 2023
    "Crackcoon"

    Unhinged Horror Movie “Crackcoon” Gets Trailer

    June 6, 2023

    Everyone in Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon” Looks Like Furiosa

    June 6, 2023

    “Captain America 4” Gets New Name, “Brave New World”

    June 6, 2023
    “How Do You Live?”

    Miyazaki’s Final Film “How Do You Live?” Won’t Get Trailer, Press

    June 5, 2023

    Report: 3rd “Hocus Pocus” in the Works

    June 4, 2023
    Popular Posts
    • Artist Makes Hilarious "My Little Danny Trejo" DollArtist Makes Hilarious “My Little Danny…
    • "Captain America 4" Gets New Name, "Brave New World"“Captain America 4” Gets New Name,…
    • Pixar Lays Off Staff, Including "Toy Story" Savior Galyn SusmanPixar Lays Off Staff, Including “Toy…
    • Road Trip Time? Visit the Cheez-It Pit Stop!Road Trip Time? Visit the Cheez-It Pit Stop!
    • Tenacious D "Wicked Game" Music Video is AmazingTenacious D “Wicked Game” Music Video is Amazing

    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    6.0

    “The Flash” Delivers Tasty-Yet-Empty Calories [Review]

    June 6, 2023
    "Crackcoon"

    Unhinged Horror Movie “Crackcoon” Gets Trailer

    June 6, 2023

    The Benefits of Booking Airport Parking in Advance: Your Guide to Parking near Montreal Airport (YUL)

    June 6, 2023

    Best DVD Decrypter For Mac Review

    June 6, 2023
    6.0

    “The Flash” Delivers Tasty-Yet-Empty Calories [Review]

    June 6, 2023

    SAG-AFTRA Authorizes Strike With 98% Vote

    June 6, 2023

    Help Identify Man Who Stole $10k Worth of Pokémon Cards

    June 5, 2023

    Pixar Lays Off Staff, Including “Toy Story” Savior Galyn Susman

    June 5, 2023
    6.0

    “The Flash” Delivers Tasty-Yet-Empty Calories [Review]

    June 6, 2023
    "Crackcoon"

    Unhinged Horror Movie “Crackcoon” Gets Trailer

    June 6, 2023

    Everyone in Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon” Looks Like Furiosa

    June 6, 2023

    “Captain America 4” Gets New Name, “Brave New World”

    June 6, 2023

    Padma Lakshmi Announces Her “Top Chef” Exit

    June 2, 2023

    “The Mandalorian” Grogu Or “Gremlins” Gizmo: Who’s Cuter?

    June 1, 2023

    “Miracle Workers” ‘Mad Max’ Inspired Season Gets July Premiere

    May 31, 2023

    “Black Mirror” Season 6 Gets Trailer, Release Date

    May 31, 2023
    Related Posts

    None found

    San Diego Comic-Con
      • auction
      • carnivorous plant
      • dinosaur
      • pennyworth
      • San Diego Comic-Con
    NERDBOT
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    © 2023 NERDBOT Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.