Would you like a conventional biopic about Elvis Presley? Me neither. This is why Baz Luhrmann was exactly the right director for the job. And Austin Butler? Well, Austin Butler is a movie star. If you’ve seen any of Baz Luhrmann’s previous films, you already know what to expect from his style: it’s big, it’s fast, it’s colorful, it’s chaotic…It's a SPECTACLE, in all caps.
And that is exactly the kind of movie elvis and the rat pack is, because Luhrmann goes all out. You're getting it all: the fast-paced editing, the drama, the passion, the costumes, the glamour, and of course, you’re getting rock 'n' roll. This is something that needs to be addressed right away because Baz Luhrmann is a pretty divisive director with elvis complete master review and a very distinct vision - some people love him, some people hate him. Personally, I really enjoy his signature style, even though I do somewhat understand why others might find him overwhelming or over the top. But his brand of joyful, spectacular maximalist just works for me. This unapologetic, theatrical style really isn’t something you get a lot of these days in movies, and on top of that, this is something very few directors can even pull off's yes, I am a Baz Luhrmann fan, and my God, was I served the biopic I was hoping for.
I definitely had some concerns going into this. Would the director’s style translate well into this story or would it swallow the narrative? Would I get hooked emotionally or would it be 160 minutes of razzle-dazzle that eventually gets tiresome? And of course, can this lead actor, whose name doesn’t really ring a bell, pull off a persona as iconic as Elvis Presley? And I’m just going to start with that last one because Austin Butler is the movie. I mean... holy f***ing shit! Regardless of your opinion about the movie happening around him, you cannot deny that this is an exceptional, unforgettable, passionate, transformative performance. That energy and charisma are absolutely magnetic, and if you’re wondering if it’s even possible to capture the Elvis Presley effect on screen, in 2022, when it feels like we’ve seen it all - the answer isn’t just a “yes”, it’s a “hell yes”.
Butler will make you want to dance, he will make you want to cheer, he will make you want to shake him, and he will also make you feel for him. What he does here is he pulls off a unique blend of commanding presence and vulnerability, capturing not just Elvis Presley as a performer, but also Elvis Presley as a human being. My point is, he’s fantastic, and yes, the film is worth your time, even for his performance alone. It is easily the performance of the year. I don’t know what it would take to top this, and when people say that this is a star-making role for Austin Butler - it is in no way an exaggeration. It simply has to be seen.
But there is a second major character here, who I’m sure is going to raise a few eyebrows: Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. He is the villain of this story, though he doesn’t see himself as one, and he is also the narrator of this film.Telling the story from his perspective is a choice I keep thinking about, and I can’t say I’m 100% sold on this, but I might be getting there. Baz Luhrmann borrows a page from “Amadeus” here, a film about Mozart narrated by Salieri, but the Colonel is a lot less complicated as an antagonist. Part of it is that he represents a broader idea, and his interactions with Elvis Presley have a clear “deal with the devil” quality to them. But also Hanks really leans into that scheming, villainous persona with his performance and the occasionally over-the-top accent. He does get a little weird at times with his line delivery, but overall it still works, and seeing Tom Hanks, America’s Dad, as an almost moustache-twirling villain is certainly an interesting treat.
The rest of the cast is very good as well, but Elvis Presley and the Colonel are the only two properly developed characters in the film. The dynamic between the two, the almost Faustian bargain they reach, with artistic freedom and the love of the people at stake, is at the core of “Elvis”, once you look past all of the stylistic elements. When it comes to the actual storytelling - the movie definitely keeps the biography aspect pretty surface level, especially in the first half. If you’re looking for an in-depth biographical drama - this isn’t going to be it, but in that case I highly recommend you watch “The Searcher”, which is a great two-part documentary about Elvis Presley. The movie on the other hand burns through Elvis’s life, and the pacing and editing are absolutely insane for a while, especially compared to the more dramatic second half of the film. That does mean it skims over certain elements of his biography, as well as certain relationships. The two underdeveloped characters that hurt the narrative the most are his mother.
.
It’s about the American Dream that turns into a tragedy. Here’s what it comes down to: if you’re looking to see Baz Luhrmann’s auteur take on Elvis Presley as an artist, within the context of his time - that is exactly what you’re going to get, and it’s going to be an incredible ride. But, if you’re still for some reason expecting this director to “behave” when it comes to additions of modern music, or somehow restrain his maximalist style - you are not going to be happy, and that is on you and your expectations.
Is “Elvis” going to be a divisive film? Absolutely. But I am going to insist that this is a really good movie. I love Baz Luhrmann in all his colorful, chaotic, romantic yet tragic glory, and this is definitely the most Baz Luhrmann thing I have ever seen. Regardless of its flaws and questionable choices, I simply felt it when I watched this movie, and I absolutely got swept up in the spectacle of it all. I am going with an 8 out of 10 for “Elvis”, I think it’s a fair rating, all things considered, though it might go up slightly after I watch it again. We’ll see. But I will definitely be watching it again. "This ain't no nostalgia show. We're gonna do somethin'... different."
