The 2022 movie, Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrman, has been one of the most anticipated movies of this year. The film is about the life of The King of Rock and Roll, the best-selling solo artist the world has seen to date, Elvis Aaron Presley.
The movie focuses on the musical journey of The King and how he transformed American musical culture, from his shot to fame in the 1950s to his Vegas residency in the 1970s, alongside his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The movie also highlights social issues like segregation laws and racism (even in music) in America back in the second half of the twentieth century.
Click here to watch Elvis Movie 2022 trailer.
Lahrman’s Cinematic Magic
The Elvis Movie is everything you expect from a Baz Luhrman film; a great cinematic experience, from the direction, iconic locations, and detail-oriented costumes to perfect dance moves, exceptional singing talent, and an incredible cast.
The movie took three years due to the COVID pandemic, but the film director and producers were adamant about releasing the movie only in theatres. And they were right to do so. The movie, Elvis, deserves to be watched and experienced on the big screen. It is worth the hype.
The spectacular cast of Elvis adds immense value to the whole movie. With Austin Butler filling the shoes of Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks, a two-time Academy Award winner, as controlling manager of Elvis, Colonel Tom Parker, The Con Man. The movie offers a great show of performances to its audience.
Butler delivers an Oscar-worthy performance
Though Austin Butler had no major film credits before playing The King, Elvis Presley, his talent and jaw-dropping portrayal of Elvis are truly admirable.
Butler shines brighter among the great actors like Tom Hanks himself. He comes on the screen and delivers you the King, Elvis, in flesh and bone. He has reincarnated the spirit of Elvis and humanized him by embodying the true persona of Elvis Presley for the whole world to see.
According to Priscilla Presley, ex-wife of Elvis, Austin Butler took her by surprise with his portrayal of her late ex-husband.
“The Kid Was Unbelievable.”
~ Priscilla Presley
It is noteworthy to add that before Butler adorned the role of Elvis, five other actors auditioned for the same job. Among Miles Teller, Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, all contending for the role of Elvis, Austin Butler outshined them all with his talent.
Well, what less was expected from Butler when an iconic actor like Denzel Washington phoned Baz Lahrman and personally vouched for Butler’s craft and talent?
Like many others who have seen the film, I believe Austin Butler deserves an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Elvis.
The Incredible Tom Hanks
However, if Butler was exceptional as Elvis in the movie, Tom Hanks raises the performance bar a notch higher with his depiction of Colonel Tom Parker. Living a life behind the curtains and under the banner of Elvis as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was a real snowman. He was a conman who financially abused and controlled the career of the King all his life, from the period they met to years after the death of Elvis Presley.
Throughout the movie, Tom Hanks keeps the audience hooked on the shady and ambitious Parker, the man who manoeuvred the career choices of Presley. He makes the audience question whether Parker was insecure about losing Elvis as his most prized possession, through whom he was making a lot of money, so he kept manipulating the King and his decisions.
The film also brilliantly showcases the bitter-sweet bond between Elvis and his cunning manager, Parker, from Elvis having blind trust in the man to Elvis trying to kick him out of his life once and for all.
Moreover, the film also sheds light on a few other things, which makes the movie a complete package for commercial and critical acclaim. Let us see what makes the movie Elvis worth watching.
Top Reasons to Watch the Movie Elvis
1. Baz Luhrman's Directorial Venture
Baz Luhrman has given us incredible movies like Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby, Australia, and many more.
It is noteworthy that the screening of Elvis at the Cannes film festival in 2022 was a momentous occasion. The film received one of the longest-standing ovations from the attendees of Cannes.
2. A Fantastic Cast
Austin Butler and Tom Hanks make the Elvis experience worth your time and money.
If not mine, you can take the words of Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley (the only daughter of Elvis Presley)
“If Elvis Had Been Alive, He Would Have Given Baz Luhrman’s Elvis, His Seal of Approval.”
~Priscilla Presley
3. Top-Notch Singing and Dancing, or to say Wiggling
If you are a geek for theatrical performances, then Elvis is your go-to movie.
Austin Butler grooves, wiggles, and sways his hips to the beats, alluring the female audience and enchanting everyone with his electrifying singing ability.
4. Elvis Seal of Approval
The private screening of the movie moved Priscilla Presley to tears at times. She even quoted in an interview that If Elvis had been alive, he would have given Baz Luhrman’s Elvis, his seal of approval.
Lisa Marie Presley mentions that the movie is the best representation of her father to date, and Austin Butler has done justice by portraying Elvis Presley like no one ever did.
(It is noteworthy that many actors have donned the role of Elvis Presley before Austin Butler.)
5. Segregation Laws and Racism
One of the movie highlights is how brilliantly it projects the social problems in America back in the day. It was against the law for the coloured and white communities to intermix in any aspect of life, even music.
Elvis came in as a rebellious white man, challenging the laws and popularising black music and lustful dance moves—as the people called it back then.
6. King of Rock and Roll
The biggest highlight of all is The King, Elvis Presley, himself. The film delivers the life of Elvis as seen never before, from his difficult childhood spent in poverty in the suburbs of the black community to his rise to glory.
Baz Luhrman has immaculately captured all the small details, humanising the larger-than-life Elvis with his spirituality, humble background, bond with his parents, days of struggle, and endless love and sense of responsibility towards his family and fans.
The film has energy, rhythm, balanced pacing and drama, and a roller coaster ride full of emotions that captivates the audience's attention throughout the show. The film would have been an utter disaster if it had not been a brilliance par excellence in every frame.
Especially with a run time of more than two hours, it was a tricky game, but Baz Luhrman, the genius, did everything right with this movie to make it both a critical and commercial success.
For all Elvis fans and others who want to witness the life of the King and experience the magic and the legacy he left behind with the revolution his music and personal style brought to the world, you should watch Elvis 2022 by Baz Lurhman.
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