Directed by : Baz Luhrmann

If I can't move, I can't sing. 

Austin Butler in a still from 'Elvis'

Spoilers ahead.. 


Biopic of one of the American music's biggest icon, also known as 'King of Rock n Roll', Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) that shows his rise to stardom from poverty to living in Vegas residency. The film showcases all the highs and lows of Elvis life including the biggest influence of his controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). He died at 43.

I feel someone has to start the trend of making a series based on biography rather than a film because even showing just the best and worst moments of a personality is too much to manage in a 2hr30 mins movie. Or you can just show particular phases of that personality. Elvis suffers from that like many past biopics have, yet it also entertains and isn't one-sided negative portrayal like Blonde was. 

The biggest mistake they did was narrating the film from Colonel Tom Parker's point of view. Why would you wanna tell the story of a famous person from the eyes of someone who financially abused him aleast in real, if not more. And it doesn't help that for a change Tom Hanks really was annoying to watch whether it was his makeup as oldie or the times he breaks the fourth wall. Editing also during first 30 so mins was way too fast and trying to be too stylish to my liking. 

Before this movie, I had heard only one track of Elvis, that too accidentally came across through 'The Conjuring 2', the song was 'Can't help falling in Love'. So, more than the life of Elvis, its his songs that I really enjoyed watching and listening  for first time. Austin Butler has done a tremendous job because I couldn't really differentiate between his and Elvis voice. From the little I heard or saw Elvis, it felt Austin nailed the looks, mannerisms and added more to it. Whether its the early days when he felt lost with the success coming his way, or later on when the slow decline happens and he is desperate to be back in the eyes of his audience. Austin for me is a huge contender for the Oscars win.

 I loved the way they introduce Elvis with the 'That's all right' track, and later on his improvised take of same track during the Vegas Rehearsal was easily the best moment of the movie thats edited really well with other versions simultaneously. Among other tracks, 'Trouble' is another I enjoyed a lot watching Elvis rebel side. Also, the whole angle of how much Elvis was influenced by the Black style of music which lead to some controversies is very well explored. He even hangs out (felt more like acquaitance than friendship) with B.B King (Kelvin Harrison Jr). It would have been nice to see some opinions shown about his music from their community too that didn't like the fact how Presley was basically using their music and getting the fame.

Elvis equation with his parents, military angle or the fall out with his wife Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge)  all felt half-baked, again its more to do with how much you can sneak in for a movie length time. Even his death felt sudden, the whole drug addiction or bad eating habits angle wasn't explored too, all we see are his addiction to the prescribed pills. I did however liked the choice of ending movie on his last performance, when despite not feeling healthy his singing didn't lack any bit of energy. 

Stranger Things fame Dacre Montgomery (playing Steve Binder) was lovely surprise for me, though it was more of a cameo role. Special mention to the gorgeous cinematography and costumes throughout the movie. 

'I will Fly away', 'Hound Dog', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Strange Things Happening Everyday' and 'Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child' were the other performed tracks that I liked. 

Parker was a fraud, and never let Elvis perform overseas because he was not a Colonel, and there was no passport, what this did is make the narrative go in direction of 'He's the sole or biggest reason' why Elvis life got destroyed or he died early. It would rather had been nice to give some blame on Elvis himself too. There's a scene where Elvis refers to Parker as his father, and initially he doesn't see any  foul play in the decisions Parker makes. I don't really feel Parker ever really cared for Elvis, and rather he was just a big tool for him to earn money, more than he deserved.

Overall, Elvis for people like me works because I enjoyed learning about the career of the great music icon, but a better narrator and more characters developed properly would have been something else. 

My Rating : 7/10