Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2022 biographical film, Elvis (M), starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks.
In 1997, Elvis Presley’s former manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), is on his deathbed. Soon, the Colonel flashes back to how he first met the future King of Rock and Roll, Elvis (Austin Butler).
Everyone knows of Elvis through his music and his tragic end. Throughout the years, Elvis has become a pop-culture reference and a cautionary tale of the dangers of success and excess. Director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann is known for his frenetic editing and montage sequences, having garnered heavy criticism for the introduction sequence of 2001’s Moulin Rouge. Here, Baz double-downs on this approach, covering the entire span of Elvis’ life using his rapid-fire approach to reintroduce the audience to the character of Elvis throughout the decades.
If there is time for the movie to ‘breathe’, it is soon interrupted by the constant narration of the odious Colonel Tom Parker. With a disgusting appearance paired with a creepy, non-descript accent, it is a wonder why the voice of the movie is of that of a parasitic character who plays Elvis’ main foil. When Elvis is left to speak and, more importantly, sing, lead Austin Butler makes a star-turning performance. Butler encapsulates the energy of Elvis and his love of Beales Street music, which serves as a massive resource for the King to dip into and deliver in his signature style.
Verdict: While an absolute assault on the senses, with a puzzling focus away from our lead, Elvis will probably please long-term fans while enticing a whole new generation to the King. 3 stars.
- Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net. Reviewed at Dendy Canberra Cinemas.
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