Baz Luhrmann's Elvis sets out to give a rough biography of the star and his relationship with a controlling manager. In uncovering some less generally known material it succeeds and, however many shortcuts it takes with historical accuracy, is to be lauded for its efforts. The same goes for the powerhouse performances by Tom Hanks (who plays the manager) and Austin Butler (who plays Elvis). Any shortcomings are clearly in the lap of Mr Luhrmann, and there his brilliance of technique which served him so well in
Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom are here part of the downfall.
In The Great Gatsby, he gave us a 'biopic' based on a fictional character that drew us into the story, much as it does in F. Scott Fitzgerald book upon which it was based. In Elvis however, there is a vast amount of actual data he feels compelled to include, along with multiple visual effects such as split screens and blends. But the real problem is a complete excess of cuts, such that there is barely a shot that lasts more than ten seconds. Although the drama picks up a bit in the last half hour, the dizzying effect of tconstant cuts is that the audience doesn't have time to relax into any one scene and fully identify with the characters.
The second problem is that this was never going to be a happy ending. Hanks' character is overpoweringly manipulative - which is appropriate for the plot - although it does mean the film is more about the manager than the singer. There is no retribution. It becomes reads more like a densely written TV documentary than cinema.
The saving quality is the singing, both in vocal quality and the sentimental value of famous songs. As tension builds up towards the finale we do actually wonder how Elvis could have been pushed around for so long and Hanks provides a very convincing answer. But at over two and a half hours long I could have done with a briefer synopsis and more singing. It was a good plot, but could have been much more enjoyable. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to end: but given the absence of a modern film about a great singer, many less critical viewers will still be delighted.
In The Great Gatsby, he gave us a 'biopic' based on a fictional character that drew us into the story, much as it does in F. Scott Fitzgerald book upon which it was based. In Elvis however, there is a vast amount of actual data he feels compelled to include, along with multiple visual effects such as split screens and blends. But the real problem is a complete excess of cuts, such that there is barely a shot that lasts more than ten seconds. Although the drama picks up a bit in the last half hour, the dizzying effect of tconstant cuts is that the audience doesn't have time to relax into any one scene and fully identify with the characters.
The second problem is that this was never going to be a happy ending. Hanks' character is overpoweringly manipulative - which is appropriate for the plot - although it does mean the film is more about the manager than the singer. There is no retribution. It becomes reads more like a densely written TV documentary than cinema.
The saving quality is the singing, both in vocal quality and the sentimental value of famous songs. As tension builds up towards the finale we do actually wonder how Elvis could have been pushed around for so long and Hanks provides a very convincing answer. But at over two and a half hours long I could have done with a briefer synopsis and more singing. It was a good plot, but could have been much more enjoyable. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to end: but given the absence of a modern film about a great singer, many less critical viewers will still be delighted.