Enjoyed Baz Luhrmann’s brilliant Elvis film last night, now available on rental streams.
The story told from the perspective of controlling manager Colonel Tom Parker played by Tom Hanks. Austin Butler is absolutely convincing as Presley.
I always believed Elvis Presley’s star was dimmed by the awful legacy of films he made, along with some of the dismal songs recorded after that first flush of 1950s rock and roll credibility.
The script suggests Elvis wanted to make his mark as an actor and was lined up to play opposite Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born, a potential career high that Colonel Tom prevented.
It was Parker who prevented Elvis from touring the world. Instead he was tied to a five year Vegas residency, enabling the Colonel to settle his own gambling debts and enjoy endless casino credit.
Meanwhile Elvis Presley became a bloated caricature, dying before his time, disillusioned and burned out.
A long film at 2 hours forty minutes but Baz Luhrmann’s creative vision makes for a dazzling cinematic journey.
Derek Webster's Blog World 