Elvis

A lot could be (and has been) said about Baz Luhrmann's directing career. 

I've not seen all his films, but I've enjoyed the two I've seen (Australia and The Great Gatsby) without finding the need to go much deeper into his film resume. While Australia is just a big, cheesy, but entertaining epic, The Great Gatsby is still a film that sticks with me and an example of Luhrmann's style, source material, music, and performances coming together to create something special. 

On the surface, that would appear true for Elvis as well. Luhrmann's style is apparent from the very first frame, Elvis' story is equal parts iconic and tragic, the music is...well...it's THE music, and you've got a pair of central performances with Austin Butler and Tom Hanks that are each memorable turns. 

Yet...something didn't connect with me in Elvis. It's entertainment value is high as hell, particularly when it's just letting Butler be Elvis-the-performer, but it took me a day or so to really determine how much I liked the film outside of those special moments. 

Eventually, I arrived at the conclusion that, among some other minor things, I didn't care for the angle the story took in this biopic. We begin the film with a confusing, and horribly CGI (seriously, the first 5 minutes are atrocious) intro to Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks), stuck in a "mental casino", explaining to the audience why he's the hero of Elvis' story. That section is quickly forgiven as he turns into the narrator and we travel back to early Elvis' life. Once past the shockingly-bad opening, we're with something that feels more Luhrmann-esque, and is infinitely more interesting. 

Over the course of the film, there are moments where the story feels holistically Elvis', and it's here the film is at its best. Sure, that's more of a traditional biopic route, but it's focused on the best character in the story, and the best performance of the film. Near the end however, Elvis begins to focus more on Tom Parker, his villainy, and his opinions of Elvis' last few years of his career. And I gotta be honest...I just gave less of a damn when the story was heavily focused on Parker. As a character, the mystery around him feels half-assed until it's super important, and he's just not likable, even if it is Hanks in the role. Hanks, donning a fat suit and speaking in a ridiculous accent, feels partly confused, probably wondering why an Elvis movie has so much of his manager within it. Of course, there's a lot to be said about Tom Parker's part he played in sucking Elvis dry of cash and working him like a mule, but...I dont know...it just was not a creative decision that jived well with me. If a film has you annoyed of Tom Hanks, you know something has to be off. 

Is Austin Butler dating or married?
Cause if not...he's gonna have his hands full

"Tom, it seems you've put on some weight!"

Major disagreement on that creative decision aside however, Elvis is one hell of a movie and a character study of the titular artist. Luhrmann's style is here in full force, for better or worse...though mostly for the better. There's some impeccable editing, particularly during musical numbers, and there's a firecracker of energy pulsing through the first half that hardly ever wears off. The ending, which becomes a bit more bleak, has moments of this sensation, but takes the time to be more somber given that some of Elvis' final years were quite sad. Say all you want about the upcoming generations, but we/they are also much better at recognizing mental health issues, and it's clear Elvis was supremely depressed and addicted to many things (pills, the stage, etc.). 

Butler is a revelation in the role, able to personify all of the subtle, but trickier aspects of Elvis: his deep voice and accent, his swagger when off the stage, his singing voice, and, of course, his dancing. That not a single one of these feels "lesser" than the other means that Butler should be up for nearly every acting award there is come awards season, especially given that he actually sang and danced throughout. Many who grew up with Elvis will likely be floored by how accurate and committed this portrayal is, and it's easily the #1 reason Elvis is as good as it is. Beyond the mannerisms, it's also a good dramatic performance, showcasing the difficult decisions Elvis had to make along his career, and how sad many of those ended up near the end of his life. Here too, Butler is fantastic.  

Those musical numbers are a thing of beauty too, as is (most) of the music throughout. There's a very weird segment where Doja Cat's "Vegas/Hound Dog" rap song is playing during the film that, again, sometimes Luhrmann's stylistic choices are a bit "WTF?". Aside from that, the music is loud, bombastic, energetic, and well chosen. Even the original score has smart weavings of some of Elvis' simpler songs (e.g. "Cant Help Falling in Love") to effectively stir emotions in dramatic moments. Rest assured, if you came for the music, Elvis delivers the goods.

Elvis is a Luhrmann film through and through which means it won't be universally loved, but it will likely become a highly regarded film in several circles as years pass. Personally, it really came down to one creative decision about the storytelling that held it back most for me, but that doesn't ruin the film. Especially not when you have something like Austin Butler's performance in the middle of the whole thing. 

CONS

• Storytelling angle mostly from Tom Parker's POV becomes annoying. How do you make Tom Hanks annoying? 
• The first 5 minutes are truly, truly awful with laughable CGI
• Some of Luhrmann's stylistic choices don't land (e.g. playing a Doja Cat song)
• Too long, largely due to the storytelling bullet

PROS

• Austin Butler IS Elvis in many, many ways. It's a memorable performance across the board and he may do very well in awards season. Worth noting he also nails the dramatic aspects of the role as much as the "impersonating" ones
• Story - outside of Parker's telling of it - is a dramatic one of rising to fame, then nearly falling all the way from it
• Luhrmann's style and editing is (mostly) fantastic here and gives the film a pulsing energy
• Holy Eff the music sequences are just fantastic. Worth the price of admission alone

Rath's Review Score | 7/10