The life story of Elvis Presley as seen through the complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
- Released: 2022-06-22
- Runtime: 159 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History, Music
- Stars: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Dacre Montgomery, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Richard Roxburgh, Helen Thomson, Yola, David Wenham, Luke Bracey, Alex Radu, Alton Mason, Xavier Samuel, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Natasha Bassett, Leon Ford, Kate Mulvany, Gareth Davies, Charles Grounds, Josh McConville, Adam Dunn, Gary Clark Jr., Shonka Dukureh, Charles Andre Allen, Chaydon Jay, Tony Nixon, Christian McCarty, Cle Morgan, Greg Powell, Anthony LaPaglia, Mike Bingaman, Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley, Vernon Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Cronkite, Robert F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Charles Manson, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Director: Baz Luhrmann
Comments
- elifnazke - 17 June 2024
Great movie but should've been better
First off all I really want to say that I enjoyed every minute of this movie it was such an entertaining and exciting movie. But I think it would've been better if they dived more into Elvis is life and his childhood. His character development and life kind of felt rushed because they focused too much on Parker but I still saw what they were trying to do so I liked it. Austin played the role amazingly well and I think he should've been gotten all the awards in the world for this role because he just nailed it. He sang, danced and talked like him and you could tell he really did his research on him after getting the role. Another thing I loved about the movie was the editing I don't know if many people noticed this but it was so interesting and good, the way they portrayed the scenes and used the filters was honestly perfect. I think this movie definitely deserves an 8/10 because of the editing and Austin Butler's incredible acting performance. - jam-58876 - 8 April 2024
Spectacular allegory, fantasy, exaggeration and reality!
Wow! Mostly great! Austin Butler as Elvis! Had the build, the moves, not quite the face, but a nice looking face. Great seeing him in the early clothes, like the pink suit, the pink plaid suit, etc which I only saw previously in black and white photos.
Tom Hanks as Col Parker narrating the film was odd and quirky. I have never heard Tom Parker's real voice so I don't know how accurate it is. I pictured Parker's voice to be gruff and garrouless as his appearance is jowly and he always has a cigar in his mouth. Some of the lines....something like "we're both orphans with big dreams" were oddball.
The allegories.... Boy Elvis being "annointed" in a Black church ( "he's got the spirit"). What I've read is that Elvis enjoyed White churches and singing with his parents and that he enjoyed standing outside Black churches listening. I've also read that he picked up guitar licks from Black folks in the neighborhood.
Another interesting allegory.. Elvis and Parker having a conversation on the ferris wheel (over the top??)
This movie showed Parker hampering and inhibiting Elvis....persuading and manipulating Elvis to join the Army...which dented his career ( IMHO). Signing him up for a string of meaningless movies (another dent in his image) and keeping Elvis overly busy on tours and thereby forcing him to take uppers and downers. Makes you wonder what Elvis' career would have been like without Parker! Parker's taste in movies and music was poor, all he cared about was making money and he made millions off Elvis.
The movie showed Elvis getting death threats. Was this a manipulation by Parker to keep Elvis fearful and under his control? So many murders of famous people in the 60s...Kennedys, King and Sharon Tate.
The movie just showed a little about Elvis' relationship with Priscilla, Mom and Dad, the Memphis Mafia. The actors were good.
All in all a good movie! - ghatbkk - 12 March 2024
Just misses
Fundamentally, the casting just doesn't work. Tom Hanks doesn't pull off being Colonel Parker and Austin Butler doesn't pull of being Elvis. Olivia DeJonge does a great job as Priscilla Presley, but she is really the only major part that is done well. Also excellent performances by Kelvin Harrison as BB King, Atom Mason as Little Richard, Shonka Dukureh as Big Mama Thornton and Cle Morgan as Mahalia Jackson. There seems to have been more effort on casting for singing talent than acting talent when it comes to casting someone to play Elvis. Movie just didn't work for me, but I'm old enough to remember Elvis and Colonel Parker. - montraviusd-16522 - 7 January 2023
You ain't nothing but a Hound Dog. Crying all the time
This is exactly why I love Baz Luhrmann the Director, because he always make good ol' oldie movies that takes place in the 1900s, 1930s, 1920s, and 1950s-1970s even though they didn't have rap music back then, but I gotta say. The director had taste of music. Austin Butler nailed it as Elvis, and Tom Hanks also did a great job as the rude, insane manager Colonel Tom Parker.
Someone please give Baz and Austin an Oscar and a Golden Globe already for Best Director and for Best Actor.
I hope Baz direct The Rolling Stones biopic next, and cast Harry Styles as Mick Jagger, and probably do a Frank Sinatra biopic next and cast Charlie Heaton as Frank. They. - RicFlair506 - 31 December 2022
Excellent biopic; doesn't shy away from the truth
Great biopic.
Casting was excellent and Tom Hanks who I thought was an "odd" choice initially turned out to be a great choice to play Colonel Parker.
For someone who wanted to know more about the story of Elvis, it's perfect. Not only captivating and such an interesting story, the movie is certainly not dull nor does it "drag anything out", yet it does have a slower pace to it. If you're looking for something riveting, this is not the movie for you. However, because I didn't know much about the Elvis story other than how "huge" of a star he was, it was great to see this story in movie form.
The last scenes really show the impact Elvis had on Americana and pop culture. - samanthacsutton - 27 December 2022
Pretty good
This movie was good and entertaining. The actors did really well portraying their characters. I also loved that Elvis' childhood was shown in the film,I learned something new about him watching this film. What took away from this movie is the fact they used modern music. This film is about Elvis, why was doja cats music in it? It was misplaced and inappropriate. Pretty disappointed over these types of decisions and I hope that they do not continue to ruin biopics in the future by doing this. I also wish there was more real footage in the film. This movie does not compare to bohemian rhapsody but overall, good job and I would definitely recommend others to watch the film. - renlewin - 19 December 2022
Austin Butler is luminous
Who is this kid? I hadn't heard about him before, then saw him on SNL. I've also been only so-so about Baz Luhrmann efforts in the past. But I decided to take a plunge based on Butler's SNL stint and thoroughly enjoyed the music, and he is magnetic and luminous. Of course Hanks is good, but Butler is the star. Interesting ways racism and political events of the 50s and 60s and 70s are woven through the timeline as well. I didn't realize Elvis was so young when he died-only 42! He was an unmatched cultural catalyst. I think it's interesting and a good plot choice that the story is told from the perspective of Col Parker. Was he exploiting Elvis? No doubt! To the benefit of us all. - Irena_Spa - 10 December 2022
About Major Tom or?
I guess that I was expecting something more convincing, but unfortunately didn't see it. Actors are so unnatural, as they did it under duress. For Tom Hanks we see that his being under mask bothers him a lot. However, didn't get it whether the movie is about his character, colonel Tom, or about Elvis?! In the movie we see mostly the story about that Tom and his destiny. Ok, then they could put the name of Bowie's song "Major Tom" as the title. Also, make up was soooo bad, as was in the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody", that everything looks as a joke, children's play. Austin Butler tried to be The King and in a several scenes he did it as he could, but watching the whole movie, he didn't. It's a pity, because Elvis deserves respect, not frivolous approach like this is. - fiona-tamburrini - 3 December 2022
Too OTT for me but if you like bells and whistles, it'll be your thing!
I'm so disappointed after waiting so long to see it. Every part is played to perfection, that's not the issue. I just think it was too much, and I should've expected that when I knew Baz Lurhman was directing, because that's his style, and I've hated every one of his films!
I am a massive Elvis fan and I know the stories, I just wanted them all to be wrapped up in one film with great actors who look vaguely like the real people. There's no need for the bells and whistles, but if you want extra, then you'll love it.
The main actor is great, he gave his all. He doesn't look like EP but they tried! Priscilla could've been anyone, there's no likeness whatsoever!
Col Tom is as gross as you will expect!
Oh and it was far too long! - lindabrown-01437 - 21 November 2022
TOM HANKS IS UNWATCHABLE
I seriously wanted to fast forward every time Tom Hanks' Colonel Parker spoke. It was that bad. Tom Hanks worst performance and I've seen them all. Austin was quite good as Elvis. Let's face it, Elvis is so iconic with such an aura that no one can do him justice. However Austin did well. If the film is titled "Elvis" you just wanted & expected way more Elvis in the film. And more songs. This has that Baz flair but there is no feeling. I couldn't feel any emotion. You won't learn anything about what makes him tick. Why make a film about Elvis' manager when filmgoers are crying out for a film about Elvis. It's as stupid as making a film about Serena Williams dad. They might as well make a Madonna movie about her cleaner. I will give a film 1 star if I hope to never sit through it again.
