'Elvis' (2022)
Opening thoughts: Elvis Presley was one of the most charismatic, unique and influential singers/performers in his day and even over forty five years after his untimely death he is a major influence and icon in music history. Even when taking liberties with the truth, this reviewer does like a lot of biopics (ie. 'Amadeus', 'The Elephant Man'). Am also an admirer of Tom Hanks and have liked some of Baz Luhrmann's work, 'Moulin Rouge' for example.
Was really psyched to see 'Elvis', but for me it was a real disappointment. By all means it is not one of the year's worst films, but it is one of the biggest disappointments. A case of one of the best performances of the year deserving a significantly better film and where a few of the main interest points on paper being where the film failed. 'Elvis' to me can never be accused of not trying, in my mind it tried too hard and was too ambitious for its own good.
Good things: There are definitely good things here. The best thing about 'Elvis' is Austin Butler, who is absolutely sensational as Elvis. He brings so much energy, commitment and nuance to the role and succeeds in making Elvis a complex character and a real person rather than just a caricature and icon. Can't fault the music either, which is an absolute delight and is both beautiful and catchy.
A real highlight is the ending and the rendition of "Unchained Melody", which really brought tears to my eyes. The costumes and sets are extravagant and colourful without being overblown.
'Elvis' unfortunately has so much wrong with it. It does try to include too much content and does too little with almost all of it, basically a series of events in short shrift cliff notes form. Elvis had a very interesting and colourful personal life, executed too conventionally and blandly here with nowhere near enough emotion. There are pacing problems throughout, with many scenes dragging and going on for too long. Some very uneventful stretches too confusingly structured, the backing and forthing in timeline feeling disjointed and lacking in cohesion.
Much of the writing is very stilted, with too much of the dialogue not sounding like everyday conversation or flowing smoothly. Too much of it sounded somewhat anarchronistic, was taken too many times out of the setting and it was like bejng yanked back to modern times constantly. While liking the costumea, sets and period detail, the editing was too frenetic and gimmicky which made it look quite unfocused and the photography has too much of an over reliance of in your face close ups.
Luhrmann's direction gets props for visual ambition but fails in making the drama interesting or emotionally investable. The support cast perform gamely but almost all have far too little to do in screen time and how the characters are written (very sketchy excepting Priscilla). While Butler gives one of the year's best performances, Hanks gives one of its worst in a rare horribly off form performance. He never comes over as sinister or real and instead too much like a truly bizarre hammy caricature and it felt very out of place in the film. With it being told from Parker's point of view, this was a massive issue.
Closing thoughts: Overall, didn't care for it.
4/10.
Opening thoughts: Elvis Presley was one of the most charismatic, unique and influential singers/performers in his day and even over forty five years after his untimely death he is a major influence and icon in music history. Even when taking liberties with the truth, this reviewer does like a lot of biopics (ie. 'Amadeus', 'The Elephant Man'). Am also an admirer of Tom Hanks and have liked some of Baz Luhrmann's work, 'Moulin Rouge' for example.
Was really psyched to see 'Elvis', but for me it was a real disappointment. By all means it is not one of the year's worst films, but it is one of the biggest disappointments. A case of one of the best performances of the year deserving a significantly better film and where a few of the main interest points on paper being where the film failed. 'Elvis' to me can never be accused of not trying, in my mind it tried too hard and was too ambitious for its own good.
Good things: There are definitely good things here. The best thing about 'Elvis' is Austin Butler, who is absolutely sensational as Elvis. He brings so much energy, commitment and nuance to the role and succeeds in making Elvis a complex character and a real person rather than just a caricature and icon. Can't fault the music either, which is an absolute delight and is both beautiful and catchy.
A real highlight is the ending and the rendition of "Unchained Melody", which really brought tears to my eyes. The costumes and sets are extravagant and colourful without being overblown.
'Elvis' unfortunately has so much wrong with it. It does try to include too much content and does too little with almost all of it, basically a series of events in short shrift cliff notes form. Elvis had a very interesting and colourful personal life, executed too conventionally and blandly here with nowhere near enough emotion. There are pacing problems throughout, with many scenes dragging and going on for too long. Some very uneventful stretches too confusingly structured, the backing and forthing in timeline feeling disjointed and lacking in cohesion.
Much of the writing is very stilted, with too much of the dialogue not sounding like everyday conversation or flowing smoothly. Too much of it sounded somewhat anarchronistic, was taken too many times out of the setting and it was like bejng yanked back to modern times constantly. While liking the costumea, sets and period detail, the editing was too frenetic and gimmicky which made it look quite unfocused and the photography has too much of an over reliance of in your face close ups.
Luhrmann's direction gets props for visual ambition but fails in making the drama interesting or emotionally investable. The support cast perform gamely but almost all have far too little to do in screen time and how the characters are written (very sketchy excepting Priscilla). While Butler gives one of the year's best performances, Hanks gives one of its worst in a rare horribly off form performance. He never comes over as sinister or real and instead too much like a truly bizarre hammy caricature and it felt very out of place in the film. With it being told from Parker's point of view, this was a massive issue.
Closing thoughts: Overall, didn't care for it.
4/10.