Baz Luhrmann's ELVIS

[Psab keel]

I finally got to see this and really enjoyed it. It's frenetically paced and over the top, but I thought Butler's performance was really stellar. I know it's stylized and so much of the real history is fudged to tie in to certain events of the period, but as a piece of pop filmmaking, it delivered for me. I enjoy Elvis and his music, and I felt Butler was a great casting choice, both in looks, voice, and overall acting. Then again he wasn't as present a musician in my life until my late 20's vs groups like the Beatles or Beach Boys who were favorites of my father, so to me Presley isn't as precious and any portrayal isn't as sacrosanct.

As such I can respect hardcore fans disapproval with the choices made and while I'm not suggesting this movie was an accurate portrayal of Elvis, it was a colorful snapshot, if you will, of the man and clearly not concerned with historical accuracy or facts. Much like the seemingly beloved recent Rocketman wasn't (apparently) take on Elton John. I can't say because I didn't see that, but from what I was told it was pretty hyperbolic.

Tom Hanks of all people was the weakest link in Elvis. Though I really love him as an actor, he was meh at best in this. Butler is the real talent here and I think everyone around him was decent, but not very memorable. Then again, being the lead that's the right place to be. I think the kid has serious talent and I felt he captured that magnetism quite well. I honestly mistook him for the Presley in some of the shots.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

I caught this movie over the weekend…

My favorite Elvis era has been, and always will be, the era of the so-called “Sweaty Fat Elvis”.

The film hardly spent more than a few minutes depicting this era. Disappointing.

The famous “Plus Tax” performance of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” should have found its way into the script:

 

[robstyle]

Much like the seemingly beloved recent Rocketman wasn't (apparently) take on Elton John. I can't say because I didn't see that, but from what I was told it was pretty hyperbolic.

Rocketman was unwatchable. It was a musical advertised as a narrative movie. Like the Freddy Mercury movie, it was noting but a focus on mom and dad issues with fame and fortune falling on everyone's laps. Perhaps well targeted at its core audience but off putting for a movie goer. This Elvis movie again pulled too deep on mommy issues VS going after the real story of Elvis. Mostly retelling and recycling. That's why I mentioned Elvis meets Nixon. You get a more accurate portrait of the person Elvis was VS pop culture.

 

[Mottrex]

A friend of mine was nuts over Elvis, he had the hair the clothes etc.
He had Every movie on Betamax(I bet he still has them) it developed a fault and with no way of getting it fixed we spent two weeks one long hot summer in the 80s transferring them all to VHS..he was very happy.

I thought the movie while typical Baz Lurhman was an entertaining romp and I learnt a bit more about the man the myth the legend.
I really want to see that expose of CTP at some point as I didn't know the dark side of his management.
Tom Hanks though, now what where how was that accent.. It was all over the place!
Was he Swedish or German I had no clue but at least the make up was better than in The Polar Express (joke)
I never really knew much about The King or CTP being only 11 when Elvis died that CTP wasn't American.
I used to listen to mums records as a small child only later found out they were actually Cliff Richard covers.. but she does still have Jailhouse rock.
Any hoo.. back on track, the movie whizzed by and maybe it was the Wine but we enjoyed the spectacle and didn't take it too seriously.



I do now have a hankering for an Elvis Burger I once had one in Atlanta, it was Amazing..

 

[Psab keel]

I never saw Rocketman though the friends that did see it said it was decent. I didn't take Elvis all that seriously. Baz Luhrman is known for his hyperbolic and eccentric style so there was never a chance that this was going to be a realistic take by any stretch of the imagination. His tone is frenetic, hyper colorized pop art and I knew that going in. All his movies are like that.

Sure a general audience make take this movie as verbatim, but I those of who think a bit more about what they watch (ie. a group like theRPF) can easily recognize fast food when we eat it. Its not great for you, but tastes good in the moment. It may not hold up to repeat meals, but provides sustenance when you're not looking to cook. It's not completely brainless entertainment, but it's easy, uncomplicated fare.

This movie was a fun couple of hours. Nothing more. There's certainly more realistic takes and while it's clear there was reverence paid to him, this intentionally spoke to the image of Elvis rather than the man himself.

As I said before I'm also not as big a fan as many here are so I'm not going to discount the dismissal of this portrayal as being unwatchable. Elvis is more than just an American icon to some and his music affected people's lives in profound ways and I respect that.

For my level of interest, it sufficed. I did want to see the one with Michael Shannon where he met Nixon. It looked really, really good. Admittedly I'm also a big fan of Shannon as an actor.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

The lowbrow comedy “Walk Hard” pretty much covers the stereotypical “pop superstar biopic” in all its tiresome formulaic, and sometimes cringe, storytelling tropes.

 

[Axlotl]

The lowbrow comedy “Walk Hard” pretty much covers the stereotypical “pop superstar biopic” in all its tiresome formulaic, and sometimes cringe, storytelling tropes.

I love Walk Hard. I think it's the funniest movie ever made. But I'm a rock and roll history nerd, so I got every reference and inside joke.

 

[DarkHelmet]

The Idol Maker starring Ray Sharkey was also a great movie about the music industry in the early 60's.

 

[marksound]

Just before the movie was released, as an anniversary trip, the wife and I did the whole Graceland experience including a stay at the big hotel next door. Total Elvis immersion. If you've never done it you just can't imagine.

A couple of weeks after the release, we saw the movie. It was a stylized look at Elvis' life through the Colonel's lens, ballpark history and all, as it tends to happen when we tell and retell our own stories.

Austin Butler doesn't look like Elvis, but I'd swear that in several shots, just for a split second, it was Elvis onscreen.

If you can turn off the analytical part of your brain and just enjoy a ride, this is a good one.

 

[Psab keel]

I'm really lost on people not thinking Butler doesn't look like Elvis. I think he looked JUST like him.

 

[Moviefreak]

I'm really lost on people not thinking Butler doesn't look like Elvis. I think he looked JUST like him.

Sorry, I think he didn’t resemble him enough.

Now, Michael St. Gerard who played him in the past…. Now he looked a lot like him.

 

[Psab keel]

No apology necessary. I know these things are subjective.

 

[RedheadKevin]

The famous “plus tax” performance of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” should have found its way into the script:

I'm also a fan of the one where he sings "Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare... Do you gaze at your bald head, and wish you had hair?" And then he can't stop laughing.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Well, since this movie really broke no new ground regarding the Story of Elvis, I think it’s time for Quentin Tarantino to give the story his treatment and make Once Upon a Time In Las Vegas…

In this version, Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton show up for a weekend in Vegas and collide with the Colonel and his car at a random location out in the desert. Just because it is what they do, Cliff and Rick torch the Colonel and his car. Since this takes place prior to the Colonel signing Elvis to his contract in Vegas, Cliff and Rick thus save Elvis from his later demise and end up eating deep fried banana, bacon, jelly and peanut butter sandwiches with The King. The end.

People will call it “The Best Elvis Story Ever”.