Direction: Baz Luhrmann
Country: USA
Elvis, a lush-looking, fast-paced but full-of-holes biographical drama about the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, leaves one feeling modestly entertained but disappointed all the same because there isn't enough to catch us with our guard down. The life of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) - from childhood to stardom to his tragic death - is pictured with decorative panache, seen through the prism of the relationship with his evasive manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), a persuasive scoundrel who made sure to profit enough at the cost of his client’s talent.
Directed and co-scripted by Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!, 2001; The Great Gatsby, 2013), this biopic uses a hybrid approach with dislocated visuals and questionable musical mash-ups. As a director of excesses, Luhrmann’s signature style was expected to bring something new but doesn’t really score here. He rather depicts the musician’s trajectory as a fairground attraction, diminishing any possible greatness and cranking up the gaudy theatrics unnecessarily. In addition to the flamboyance that glazes at the surface, the film suffers from a certain artificiality that removes emotional heft. We sense that something is not right.
The only reason to see it is Tom Hanks. At first you won’t believe your eyes, seeing him buried under prosthetic facial work. His performance is so appropriate, contrasting with that one of Austin Butler, who never convinces as the title character. Assuming the form of an elaborate crowd-pleaser, Elvis is a missed opportunity to depict the iconic singer’s life with sober-mindedness.
