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"Elvis" Delivers on Emotion, Stumbles in Special Effects


Elvis Presley was an American icon and the ultimate symbol of rock star glitz, glamor, and excess, the perfect combination of factors for eccentric Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrman to capitalize on for movie success. Elvis should be considered a success, delivering a dazzling picture of the unfortunate King of Rock and Roll and his unhealthy, exploitative, and questionable personal relationships.


Topped off with a phenomenal cast and impassioned performances, it's a great movie, but it is also strangely paced, underwhelming in some of the special effects, and offers an incomplete look at some parts of the man it tries to represent.


The movie itself follows the life of Elvis, played by Austin Butler, from his first meeting with his manager Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks, to his tenure in Las Vegas and eventually his death, which is not seen on screen. Along the way, the audience is treated to a series of flashbacks to Elvis’s difficult childhood which provide background for his interest in music and relationship with his mother, another integral aspect of the story.


Butler’s performance as Elvis is phenomenal. He captures the swagger associated with Elvis in the public eye but also the vulnerability that defined his personal life. This mixture of emotions Butler creates allows him to imitate Elvis’s iconic voice without coming off as overly cartoonish.


Hanks also delivers a stand out performance as manipulative manager and Dutch criminal Tom Parker. Compared to Butler, Hanks is cartoonish, but his over the top make-up and accent fit the film's tone and help to offset the fatherly persona who was able to dupe Elvis.

As for effects, anyone familiar with Luhrman’s other films will recognize his unique visual style and use of editing, particularly montages, to help portray emotion quickly. Elvis is no different, and the pink and red color schemes as well as mix of Elvis songs and modern pop provide interesting visual and audio fare. Some of these do disappoint, however, creating visually jarring moments that harm the overall experience.


The use of montages also impacts the pacing, as the long periods of time they skip contrast with the extended sequences focused on specific events. While this is to be expected in a biopic, the parts of his career that aren’t used are interesting. Only brief mentions and scenes are devoted to Elvis’ movie career and his time in the military.


Overall, Elvis is an enjoyable movie filled with fantastic performances that display convincing emotion and paint a sympathetic picture of a figure who is more often than not the butt of modern pop cultural jokes. Despite its hiccups, Elvis is a fun and emotional movie that is definitely worth a watch.


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