THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
When you hear the story of one’s rise and fall to stardom, you know that is one worth the time. And that feeling couldn’t be anymore true through Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.
PLOT
The 2022 biopic tells the life of the best selling solo recording artist of all time, as well as his manager Colonel Tom Parker. Early on in his life, Elvis Presley grew up battling poverty with his family. During those trying times, he found salvation through music, particularly produced by African Americans in Memphis’ Beale Street. When Parker first heard of his music, he was a carnival huckster managing Hank Snow (David Wenham), feeling destined to manage him. When he gets to see him perform, he becomes impressed of how quick women become attracted to him and his dancing style. And when they meet, Parker is able to convince him to be his manager, which quickly leads to him taking control of his career that allows it to take off higher than imagined. However, Elvis does receive backlash early on in his career when many adults fear that his music corrupt children and Senator Jim Eastland disliked his involvement with African musicians. He would briefly change his image to be in good grace until eventually expressing himself the way he wants. When he does so at another concert, it gets hectic and gets threatened by the government to serve a prison sentence. Surprisingly, Parker was able to persuade them to draft him into the US Army to avoid further entanglements. Sadly, during his time in the service, Elvis' mother Gladys (Helen Thomson) would die as a result of alcoholism. He would also meet his wife Priscilla Beaulieu when stationed in Germany and after being discharged, he resumed his career with making more movies and continuing his concert tours. During the 60s, Elvis wants to be politically outspoken with his music, as a result of personal heartbreak after the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy, but Parker shows little interest and is solely on best selling frivolous tunes. The star would start rebelling against his manager by performing political songs instead of a Christmas showtune, which would only infuriate network sponsors. Parker would then lock him into a long contract to perform at Las Vegas yearly rather than allow a world tour. He did stream his shows internationally, but Elvis would soon discover that he's been avoiding to leave the United States because he is an illegal Dutch immigrant with no passport named 'Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk', who has huge debt as a result of his gambling addiction and has no legitimate rank as colonel. Knowing all of this, he wants to fire him, but Parker locks him even tighter by threatening to expensively sue him that'll leave hm financially broken. Feeling no other option, Elvis keeps him as manager, but emotionally distances himself from him. The entrapment puts him in such a downward spiral as Priscilla would take their daughter Lisa Marie and leave him over his prescription drug addiction. It would only worsen when they leave, as he felt that no one would remember him. Although he sadly die at age 42 after a heart attack in 1977, the film ends with Parker dying in 1997, impoverished and alone long after his ties to the Presley estate had ended.
THOUGHTS
A part of me thought this story would never be told onscreen because the expectations would be too high. However when I made the time to see this in theaters, I could not believe how much I enjoyed it. Luhrmann made it as dazzling as it should be because that's how it felt for people when seeing this singer take command onstage. Thanks to unique visual effects, it helped make the editing of Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond, as well as Mandy Walker's cinematography feel magical. I think the main reason it can be easy to become attached to this story would be because it boldly tells viewers to never give up on your dream and to not be afraid to stand out. This was crystal clear whenever you focus on the titular lead. You can find 100 impersonators of Elvis Presley in Las Vegas and at this point, they are all dethroned by Austin Butler who pulls off becoming this character through the vast costumes and on point mannerisms. He reminded people that this man was special because he was the first barrier breaker to the industry. His inspiration from African American music further proves the benefit of being a diverse person. He always loved people for who they were inside and didn't care about what was outside. I don't think there is an exaggeration in calling him a superhero because seeing his dance trigger women the way he did further proved he always had unique presence. If you were to ask me my favorite song from him, I would likely say 'If I Can Dream'. I choose that song because of its message on living for peace and harmony, the things that are difficult to maintain in society. Getting to see him perform it on the '68 Comeback Special, in defiance to Parker, was breathtaking because it showed how much it meant for him speak up on his personal beliefs, which is important for everyone to do whatever the topic. You feel bad for his downfall all the way because you know it's all out of his control and he missed every opportunity to get it back. Nevertheless, he didn't stop pouring his heart to what he loved wherever he went because it showed exactly how much it meant to him to make people happy. I will always remember him now for being the king of the genre he created, but for being the man who created the best kind of energy and shared it to the world. It was definitely a treat to see various cameos of respected musicians, but the one that definitely had the most meaning was BB King. Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s brief appearance as the black musician was the most special because of how he encouraged Elvis to be himself in order to push the boundaries needed to spark diversity in the industry. And I think without that encouragement, music wouldn't be as diverse as it is now. It proved that if he is cool for being different, so can anyone and everyone else. Of course there is always a mastermind behind a great talent and for Elvis, it was a scoundrel named Tom Parker. Thanks to incredible makeup, the iconic Tom Hanks was able to remarkably play this figure as a man who acted like a leech to his meal ticket. He had his issues and he didn't care. Seeing him narrate his perspective on how he should be loved for capitalizing in making such a star proves how disillusioned he was in believing he wasn't ever wrong for his actions. So when he bites the dust, there is no pity to feel for someone so selfish. The existence only reminds people to be careful who to trust on your way to the top because they could bring you back down without knowing it. While the dynamic of Elvis and Parker are the selling point of the movie, there were two other people that make it all the more interesting. I don't exaggerate when I say how much of a driving force Olivia DeJonge was as Priscilla. She was accurately ever striving and progressive who was always wanted the best for Elvis. She loved him as he loved her for how big their hearts were, but she couldn't be there for him because she couldn't stand how he couldn't decide for himself anymore and chose to keep hurting himself with his addiction. Things may have ended badly due to his decisions, but it didn't changed that she always loved him and it's heartwarming to see that she taught her family to love him for the good man he always was. I also enjoyed Dacre Montgomery as producer Steve Binder, who like BB King encouraged Elvis to be himself, reminding viewers that quality is better than quantity. In short, 2022's Elvis is a remarkable story for showing that anyone can become anything they set their mind to and make a difference in the process. If you are a general music lover, particularly of this icon, see this now.
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