With Elvis, Baz Luhrmann delivers a dazzling, flashy, and overall solid biographical film fit for a king.
Overall Score: 9/10
Image: Warner Bros. Pictures
Biopics. Who doesn’t love them? They’re a popular means for storytellers to tell the tales of numerous famous people from around the world. One of the most prominently featured types of individuals, however, seems to be well-known musicians — many of whom just so happen to be singers. Think about it. Within the past five years alone we’ve gotten movies like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, Judy, and Respect.
Likewise, in 2022 we’ll be getting more of these, with one about Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, releasing later this year. But right now, another highly anticipated biographical film has hit cinemas all around the world: Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.
From the moment it begins until the moment it ends you know with absolute certainty that you’re watching a Baz Luhrmann movie. Now, I’ll be honest. Before this, I never particularly cared for Luhrmann’s unique directorial style. I dislike his work in Moulin Rouge! and I absolutely hate what he did in Romeo + Juliet. Both, I feel are far too dizzying and bombastic to enjoy. But here, with Elvis, I have to admit that I don’t think that anybody, no matter how talented or brilliant, could have done a better job than Baz Luhrmann.
All throughout the film, Luhrmann uses his often restless and over-the-top directing skills to great effect. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that his energy is quite infectious, and you can really feel it in the movie’s wild editing and in its fantastic and electrifying musical sequences. Trust me, as you watch on, you’ll more than likely find yourself wanting to get up and cheer and applaud alongside the on-screen audience.
As for the film’s plot, it essentially follows the rise and fall of the eponymous singer. However, instead of conforming to the conventional and straightforward biopic formula, Luhrmann has opted instead to tell this story from the perspective of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager.
This can, at first glance, seem like a confounding creative decision, but ultimately, it proves to be a rather ingenious one. Parker is very much the villain here, so to see everything from his point of view allows us to observe his abuse of Elvis firsthand, showing us that the movie isn’t only meant to be a celebration of the late rock and roll icon, but that it’s also meant to be an exploration of the tragedy that was his life.
Of course, the film wouldn’t work as well as it does without the perfectly cast Austin Butler. As Elvis, Butler gives one of the year’s best performances. And, as many have already stated, he isn’t simply doing an impression, he very much is Elvis. The voice, the singing, the dancing, you name it. Butler nails it all, making him almost indistinguishable from the real Elvis. I can totally see him getting nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, and maybe, with a little luck he’ll be able to land a win.
As for Tom Hanks, he plays Colonel Parker, and interestingly, with this role he has a rare opportunity to play the antagonist instead of the good guy like he always does. As Parker, he — with the help of makeup and prosthetics — transforms himself into an overly cliché, mustache-twirling villain. And although one could argue that Hank’s acting is oddly over-the-top and cartoonish, I say that that’s exactly what he’s supposed to be doing. Also, it’s rather impressive that every time his character schemes or forms some sort of devious plan, Hanks masterfully utilizes his eyes and facial expressions, allowing us to see just how manipulative Parker really was. Whether or not this warrants another Oscar nomination for Hanks is up for debate, but a great performance it was nonetheless.
Overall, Elvis is an utterly unforgettable cinematic experience. Yes, some may find Baz Luhrmann’s distinctive style overwhelming, but I believe that most will have a good time and will likely be wowed by Austin Butler’s phenomenal acting. And while it’s definitely not your average biopic, the movie is still highly effective in being a fun, emotional, and crowd-pleasing ride. Plus, once you get to the end, you may find yourself wondering if you were simply watching a film or if you were, in fact, watching the real Elvis perform one last time — a testament to just how great Luhrmann’s Elvis really is.
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