This month Verve’s star teen reviewer Lucy Kennedy gets all shook up with the Baz Luhrmann biopic of the King of Rock ‘n Roll.
Elvis
PG13
Glittering lights, elaborate costumes, and a title character so iconic that his work has been revered through generations – this is Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film, Elvis. Yes, another Elvis Presley biopic, but what sets it apart from other films tracing the star’s life is that it is told from the perspective of Presely’s manager Colonel Tom Parker. With a mingling sense of pride, guilt, and grief, the motivation behind the choices of the infamous manager is brought to light. This is a film filled with glitz and glamour, upholding Elvis’ larger-than-life image to show the more human side to the legend.
The way this movie has been shot is very much maximalist, with a plethora of visual effects, a wild range of colours, and lots of fast-paced shots. This energetic style of filmmaking can become tiring after a while, which I think is due to the long length of the movie as well as the emotional rollercoaster that was Elvis’s career. This lends to the story, though – after five years of performing at the International Hotel, trapped under the watchful eye of his manager, Presley would have been exhausted and the sense of tiredness and finality that comes with the penultimate scenes play into the main themes of the film.
In order to prepare for the role of Elvis Presely, actor Austin Butler went to extremes to capture the essence of the superstar. Practising for hours to perfect his laugh and mannerisms, learning to sing in the style of the star which caused major damage to his vocal cords, covering his apartment with pictures of Elvis, and meeting with Lisa Marie (Presely’s daughter) to talk about her father. This clearly shows how much dedication and hard work went into the role, for which he was awarded Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globe awards in January.
Available to stream on Neon
3/5 stars
Instagram: @lucykennedyreviews
