Elvis

I am a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann!  I didn't especially care for Australia, but Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge, and The Great Gatsby are some of my favorite movies.  I have lost count how many times I have watched them but I am sure that it is an embarrassingly high number!  I have been looking forward to Luhrmann's latest project, Elvis, for so long and my excitement only grew after it was screened at Cannes to positive reviews.  I finally had the chance to see it last night and it is everything I expected from a Baz Luhrmann movie (and that is a good thing)!  The story of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) is told through the filter of his troubled relationship with his manipulative manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).  Parker narrates from his deathbed to set the record straight about his perceived responsibility for Elvis's death.  He meets the young Elvis while managing Hank Snow (David Wenham) and Jimmie Rodgers (Kodi Smit-McPhee) on the carnival circuit and, after seeing a performance in which Elvis captivates the audience, he convinces his naive parents Gladys (Helen Thomson) and Vernon (Richard Roxburgh) to let him take over his management and business affairs.  He forces Elvis to tone down his provocative act to be more family friendly, to be drafted into the military rather than be arrested for indecency, to appear in a series of third rate movies, to appear in a Christmas special, and to perform exclusively at the International Hotel in Las Vegas rather than tour.  He also alienates Elvis from the two woman who love him:  his mother Gladys and his wife Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge).  Elvis defies him as often as he can to be true to himself and his roots and, in so doing, he becomes the King of Rock and Roll.  However, he eventually ends up bloated, addicted, and alone after a final capitulation.  Luhrmann is known for his dazzling over the top style and the visuals are absolutely gorgeous even if some of his signature montages are a bit frenetic.  The narrative, which may or may not be completely accurate, is incredibly compelling and I was particularly interested to learn that Parker manipulates Elvis into the Las Vegas residency to cover his own debts.  I loved how all of Elvis's performances are staged, especially his first performance of "Baby Let's Play House" as the girls in the audience lose their minds over him, his 1968 comeback special performance of "Jailhouse Rock" (the black leather outfit!), and the Las Vegas performance of "Suspicious Minds."  Butler gives a performance that is nothing short of amazing, especially when he is on stage (he even sings as the younger Elvis), and I am sure that he will be in the running for every Best Actor award.  Hanks gives one of the most bizarre performances I've ever seen with weird prosthetics and an inconsistent accent (which is unfortunate because he is the narrator) but I appreciate the fact that I never once saw the actor in the character.  Every other character, including Priscilla, is relegated to the background but it almost doesn't matter because you simply cannot take your eyes off of Elvis!  It is an entertaining spectacle and I absolutely loved it!