Inspired by the incredible true story of one of the most excellent musicians of all time, Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic is an astonishing film that honor’s the legacy of Elvis Presley while providing an exciting look into what Elvis was like when he wasn’t on stage. The film’s tone is bizarre, but in a good way, the music is outstanding, and Baz Luhrmann’s direction is excellent, making this his best film since 2001’s “Moulin Rouge!”. After spending two decades having minor roles on Nickelodeon shows such as “Zoey 101” and “ICarly,” which then lead to minor supporting roles in films like “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “The Dead Don’t Die,” Austin Butler gives a phenomenal performance as Elvis Presley. Butler disappears into the role of Elvis Presley through his singing and dancing abilities, making it feel like we were watching the real Elvis Presley onscreen. Tom Hanks gives an excellent performance as the main villain Col. Tom Parker who was Elvis Presley’s manager. This was a fascinating character for Tom Hanks because Hanks has always played the everyday hero. It was great to see him play a character that was extremely out of his comfort zone, especially portraying a villain. The only negative this movie has is that the running time is two hours and forty minutes, and it should have been forty minutes shorter because there were moments that go on for a very long time. Regardless, “Elvis” is a fantastic movie that pays great respect to the king of rock and roll and why he is one of the most celebrated entertainers in music history.
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