It’s been a little while since a certified music legend has been immortalised on our cinema screens, perhaps the last major production was Elton John’s Rocketman. However Baz Luhrmann has proven that the age of the biopic is still well and truly in full swing with his latest film to commemorate the life and achievements of the inimitable Elvis Presley. Filmed entirely on the Gold Coast and hosting plenty of home grown talent, Luhrmann’s adaption of Presley (Austin Butler) and his complex (read:toxic) relationship with Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) has all the style and charm you would expect.
The first thing to note about this biopic that sets is slightly apart from its predecessors is just how stylistic it is. Luhrmann has taken a leaf out of his Great Gatsby days and created something truly unique. A recurring theme which also featured in Gatsby is his use of blending modern music which are vaguely reminiscent of older times and seamlessly integrating it into the film. Where Gatsby had Fergie and Jay Z, Elvis has Doja Cat and her rendition of Hound Dog (titled Vegas) which truly emphasises the era it’s been filmed in. This is a divisive creative choice and lots of Elvis fans will undoubtedly be upset by how it deviates from the norm and has a heavy stylised influence, but I find that it works. It adds to the charm and uniqueness and progressiveness that Elvis had on the world when he started rising to fame - art imitating life. And while we never hear an entire Elvis song in full, there’s plenty of fan service that will have you shimmy-ing in your seats.
Speaking of the King himself, it is undoubtedly a tall order to portray someone as iconic and prolific as Elvis Presley with any semblance of justice. However I’m confident that Austin Butler gets as close as feasibly possible. From appearance to demeanour to manner of speaking, Butler absolutely kills it! His method performance has bled into his personal life, so if you want a watered-down sneak peek, go and watch any interview he’s done in the last year or so. His performance stood out as the highlight of the film for me, and while my biggest concern was that Elvis’s legacy would be tarnished by some rootin-tootin caricature, those fears all but vanished by the end of the film.
I think the film falters in one area - and I never thought I’d ever have to write this: but Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker is easily the films weakest aspect. From his strange hybridised foreign accent which still has the Hanks’ twang, to his stiff prosthetic double-chin, which looks so comical it almost likens him to a muppet-type character. To be fair, I don’t know much about the real Tom Parker - nobody does, and the idea of exploring his complex relationship with Presley is indeed an interesting spin on the typical biopic, but the stylistic choices of Luhrmann and Hanks took me out of the film at times which is a real shame.
All in all, Elvis warrants a watch. The music alone is enough to enjoy the 2.5+ hours in a cinema, and most of the visuals are a joy to see on screen. While Butler puts on an Oscar worthy performance and Hanks falls a little flat, those who like Elvis and those who like Luhrmann will both find things to enjoy.
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