Elvis was less a pop star than a phenomenon: he is one of the best-selling artists of all time and one of the most famous musicians of modern times. In fact, he is so famous that there have been seemingly countless biographies, biopics and documentaries about him, his origins and his stardom. But despite this, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis manages to breathe new life into the story and has become one of Prime Video’s best films – thanks in large part to a stunning performance from Austin Butler as the king of rock ‘n’ roll.
Why Elvis Will Totally Upset You
If the Elvis you know is the Elvis of nude suits, karate movies, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Elvis the film is a great corrective. While the late Elvis was of course real, it sometimes overshadows how downright dangerous he felt when he first appeared on American TV screens. The early Elvis was hungry, vital and sexy, and that is the Elvis that Austin Butler embodies. As The Arizona Republic states that the film “is clearly designed to appeal to generations for whom Elvis Presley may not be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll so much as the man on the soundtrack of Lilo and Stitch“.
“Elvis is hyperbolic, one-dimensional and ridiculous – but as over-the-top cinematic myth-making it’s a treat,” the music magazine said. Uncutbut it’s not to everyone’s taste: The AV club noted that “Luhrmann’s rapidly edited, super-editing style overpowers the subject matter, and the result is an impressionistic, cluttered highlight reel of Presley’s many achievements, despite vivid reconstructions by actor Austin Butler as The King.” But for others, that was part of the film’s appeal. “Flashes of color, lightning bolts, and camera pans and needle drops are sometimes overwhelming,” said the Chicago Reader“But overall it’s a pleasurable experience that washes over you in waves of excitement.”
There is one big problem if you are a fan though. The Irish Independent points out that for a movie about Elvis, there isn’t much of his music in the film. “The film’s attitude toward Presley’s music is baffling—hardly a single song is played in its entirety, and the ones we do hear are discarded in gimmicky overlays.” But the songs we do see are exciting, says The Observer: “Of the actors who have previously attempted to bottle Elvis’ lightning-fast magic, none have come close to matching the physical, emotional, electric energy that reverberates through Austin Butler’s title role.”