Elvis (2022) Movie Review

                                                       by Debra Koffski

It's almost time for the Oscars, and there have been a buzz about a lot of good movies, however in my eyes there is one that stands out. 

Elvis (2022) is a Baz Luhrmann biopic depicting the life of Elvis Presley as told by his long-time manager Col. Tom Parker, who, as Baz has stated was never a Colonel, or a Tom, or even a Parker. It chronicles their relationship over 22 years. 

Baz makes over the top theatrical films that are best viewed on the large screen. Is it factual? In my opinion, 90% of it is. Did he take liberties with the remaining 10%? Absolutely! Does that make it any less of an epic film? Absolutely not! 

Catherine Martin (the wife of Baz) is a absolute genius when it comes to costume design. Mandy Walker is the cinematographer, and is up for an academy. Altogether, the movie is up for 8 movie nominations including: Best picture, Best Actor, Cinematography, Editing, Makeup and Hair-styling, Production Design, and Sound.  

I hope the movie wins many awards, but mainly for the best actor nomination. Austin Butler, rising star before the movie came out, is well on his way to becoming one of the best actors in Hollywood. When production shut down because of Covid, he stayed in Australia  to immerse himself into Elvis. He hired dialect coaches, movement coaches, singing coaches, and a karate coach. He spent hours with his headphones on at the beach, laughing like Elvis to get it right. 

Did he succeed? He did, and amazingly so. Watching the movie brought back all the feelings one had with Elvis. I grew up watching and listening to him. There were times it was difficult to distinguish Austin Butler from the legend himself. Austin worked tirelessly to find the humanity in Elvis, and not just the myth. When Elvis's ex-wife Priscilla, and his late daughter, Lisa Marie approves and embraces you as a family member, you know you've succeeded in what you set out to do. 

As the legendary actor himself (Tom Hanks) has said, "every time he was on the stage, you couldn't take your eyes off of him. Every single time"! 

In conclusion, should you see the Elvis movie? Yes, yes and yes! Should the movie win best picture? Definitely! Should Austin win for best actor? A thousand percent yes, and according to his millions of new fans, it would be silly for him not to.