Elvis
2022
***
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr, David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Luke Bracey, Dacre Montgomery
Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic is narrated by Colonel Tom Parker, the star's duplicitous manager who famously exploited his client throughout his career. The story focuses on three key moments in the singer's career: the breakthrough in the 1950s, the 68 Comeback Special, and the final years in Las Vegas. The film is long, yet it feels rushed and sanitised. Anything good that happens is due to Elvis' brilliance, anything bad that happens is someone else's fault. Amongst all of this, Priscilla barely registers as a character. Luhrmann clearly wants to focus on Elvis as a brilliant performer. The musical performances are admittedly impressive and there is no doubt that Austin Butler gives a very strong lead performance.
