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Post by mrimpossible on Jun 29, 2022 21:36:37 GMT
I watched this yesterday and I gotta say I enjoyed myself a lot. I thought it was extremely entertaining. The sets, music and the style of it really helped the conventional storytelling of it which is present in most biopics. Tom Hanks was alright; I don't understand some of the passionate hate for him in this, but he made some choices that didn't land well. The star of the movie is of course Austin Butler who is great in this. This is a star making performance by him. I never truly got why Elvis became one of the biggest musicians the world has ever seen. But after watching this movie and Austin Butler's portrayal of Elvis, I finally got it. And that's all you could really ask for in a movie like this. I'm not a Baz Luhrmann fan but his style in my opinion really enhanced the movie for me. 8/10. A really good time at the theater for me.
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Post by DeepArcher on Jun 30, 2022 0:13:08 GMT
Surprised no one had started a thread on this yet? I saw it days ago and didn't think to myself lol.
I liked it ... Baz's style makes this about as good as a by-the-numbers, jokeless Walk Hard music biopic could be. It's clear their take on Colonel Tom Parker is to render him as a cartoonish villain (who hilariously insists he's not the villain of the story) and Hanks' performance is genuinely interesting, effective, and funny. I've heard some complain about that choice in perspective but I thought it added a fresh-ish change to the formula that at least proved that Baz & co. had a "take" here. Lots of obnoxiously cliche scenes but the way this focuses on Elvis' status as an icon of Americana clashing with how the American system cashed-in on exploiting his music was at least something ... And the shooting, editing, etc. turns it into a huge, energetic maximalist spectacle that doesn't feel its length at all (until maybe the third act) and was in its best parts genuinely fun to watch.
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Post by finniussnrub on Jun 30, 2022 2:45:47 GMT
Butler is genuinely very good. Hanks is terrible though, this coming from someone who liked Leto in Gucci, but there at least Paolo had an Italian accent even if it wasn't *that* Italian accent. Hanks sounds nothing in the stratosphere of the real Parker. Of course that wouldn't matter if he was entertaining, but he's not, he's just kind of annoying. Worse though is we are supposed to buy his manipulative abilities at least early on, but Hanks is such an obvious villain that is it impossible to believe anyone would trust him with their money. You shouldn't see a huckster coming from THAT far away. It is a ridiculous performance. Otherwise the film is largely what to expect from these musical biopics, with the change being Luhrmann doing his usual thing. If you like Luhrmann typically this probably will be up your alley...I do not. Still kudos to Butler for managing to embody and not just imitate.
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Post by countjohn on Jun 30, 2022 4:10:26 GMT
Saw this Friday night. The two things holding this back from true greatness are Hanks and the editing of the first act. Hanks is not as bad as suggested by the trailers. It's a so so performance with a ridiculous Bond villain accent. But Colonel Tom is positioned as such an important character in the script that it needed something more.
The movie does not really hit its stride until it reaches the comeback special. The early scenes are all over tint he place and it feels rushed up to that point. Baz says there's a four hour cut and I'd imagine a lot of those scenes are from earlier in the film.
Still, the great strength here is Butler who I could see as my win at the end of the year. Really a miracle of a performance given there's an entire industry built around camp Elvis impersonations. The costumes and PD are of course top notch as well.
8/10 for me.
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Post by Viced on Jul 2, 2022 17:21:01 GMT
It's bloated beyond belief, full of the usual music biopic clichés, and takes more than a little while to truly come together... but somehow I kind of loved it. Baz clearly understands what made Elvis the King, and he did a damn good job showcasing it. And honestly, it's pretty restrained by his usual standards for at least 75% of the runtime. But when he really brings it, he's not messing around. All of the performance scenes are incredible.
But the main attraction is obviously Austin Butler... who's pitch perfect and eerily believable as Elvis. If Rami Malek won an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody, this dude should get the Nobel Peace Prize for his performance here.
and honestly... Hanks is pretty good as the Colonel. The character is way on the nose and I got pretty sick of him early, but I think that was the point.
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Post by JangoB on Aug 8, 2022 15:07:45 GMT
I wasn't on board with the movie's trailers but very early on in the film I got the feeling that Baz has delivered his Bazzy goods (although I'm sure a lot of folks wouldn't use that word) yet again. I'll always have a soft spot for that dude and it's gratifying to see that he doesn't lose his wild approach to filmmaking during his long breaks between projects. Within the film's skeleton is a fairly standard music biopic (a genre which is among the least exciting ones out there) but thankfully the clichéd bones are surrounded by tons and tons of wild Luhrmann tissue. I was a little trepidatious after reading some opinions indicating that there ain't that much Bazzness in the film but all of those doubts evaporated pretty quickly - the experience is akin to being sucked into a cinematic hurricane with the insane cutting (which, per Luhrmann's standards, slows down only closer to the third act), bizarre choices and the sheer noise of it all. Under a more workmanlike directorial hand the movie would've probably turned out to be boring and banal but Luhrmann's approach makes it sing. It's not a masterpiece or anything since the script is indeed quite rote but the filmmaking sure tries to milk the most excitement out of it. The movie hops through Elvis's life in such a kaleidoscopic fashion that it barely leaves room for any individual scenes to leave their mark. And yet when all the swirling and the montaging eventually slows down the quieter stuff does manage to resonate. Even though it's a pretty superficial ride for the most part. Maybe I would've been properly in love with the film had I been a bigger Elvis fan (I like him fine but I wouldn't call him a personal favorite or anything) but with that being that it still did a solid job keeping me engaged in his life journey. And that's mostly due to Luhrmann's extravagant approach. Austin Butler is definitely very impressive here although it's only later in the running time that the film gives him opportunities to do full-sized actorly scenes - most of the piece is so quickly edited and fast-paced that you kinda have to catch glimpses of how good he really is. But even with that in mind he's never anything but compelling and fully believable in the role. Nothing about his performance feels distracting or phony - he's as organic as can be. And even though it's easy to see why Hanks's turn has become so divisive I think he deserves praise as well. It's fun to watch such a flamboyant character performance from him and frankly it fits the stylized cinematic world of this movie very well. I started this write-up by mentioning that I didn't like the trailers but I'm actually grateful for them because they smartly prepared us for the type of turn he'd be doing. With the shock and apprehension out of the way I found quite a few things to appreciate about him as Parker. Obviously his choices wouldn't have worked in a more level-headed biopic like "Walk the Line" but this movie is artificial-feeling enough (and I don't mean that in a bad way) for him to properly belong in it. We're in Baz world here, folks. You either sit there bewildered or just go with the flow. And I always pick the latter with our Aussie movieman. I wish the color correction had been done a bit more, well, colorfully (because the look is rather muted compared to "Gatsby", for instance) but the design work on display is still fantastic, particularly when it comes to the costumes. All hail Catherine Martin!
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Post by hugobolso on Aug 8, 2022 17:13:11 GMT
It's a 5. The first third is incredible, until's Elvis mom death. The all become in a downhill. That's not credible.- At least in the first of the third arcs. Young Elvis is ambitious. In the seccond and the third act. Poor Elvis, bad Parker.- And the Bobby Kennedy thing totally out of place. Of course as other famous murderers of the time he was concerned. But he was more concerned about banging, than from Bobby Kennedy death.- In fact I expect something about this , but for unknown reasons Buzz had no time in his 3 hour movie.-
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Elvis
Aug 8, 2022 22:17:51 GMT
Post by countjohn on Aug 8, 2022 22:17:51 GMT
Baz has delivered his Bazzy goods This sounds like some kind of weird euphemism for jizz.
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Elvis
Aug 8, 2022 22:48:57 GMT
Post by JangoB on Aug 8, 2022 22:48:57 GMT
Baz has delivered his Bazzy goods This sounds like some kind of weird euphemism for jizz. I'll pretend that it was intentional.
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Post by pupdurcs on Aug 9, 2022 4:59:19 GMT
Well, it's always watchable thanks to Baz Lurhmann's Attention Deficit Disorder style of directing & editing (Baz doesn't give you time to get bored, for better or worse) and Austin Butler's performance (easily the best thing about this film. Bravo to this young man . Some serious commitment, even though Elvis is kind of written in a one note way, so he can't dive into more complex territory that his acting hinted him to be clearly capable of). You can tell why Elvis family love & support the film...because it presents him in such a relentlessly positive light & skims over his flaws. But fuck me, Tom Hanks damn near destroys this film. The more I think about it, the worse his performance gets. He's never for one second believable as a real person. The juxtaposition is worse because he's acting opposite Butler, giving a sensitive, deeply honest performance...and everytime Hanks shows up or opens his mouth, he turns the film into a cartoon. Truly one of the most ridiculous performances I've seen in a studio film at this level. If there's any justice, he'll be a Razzie frontrunner this year. Most of the other performances are fine, but unremarkable. But this is the Austin Butler show, and it's impressive to watch such an incredibly physically specific performance. He gets Elvis mannerisms down to a tee. 6/10 (would be higher if it weren't for Hanks, but he literally takes it down about 2 points for me. Would have loved to see someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman, if he were still alive, play Colonel Tom Parker instead. Anyone but Hanks, who is horrendously miscast & misjudged).
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Post by pacinoyes on Aug 16, 2022 13:03:13 GMT
I really like that I haven't liked anything much for US mainstream movies 8 months into the year - The Batman, The Northman, Crimes of the Future, Maverick, Nope, and now this - now those are various levels of ok-ish - but will never get any of the "raves" for them (including Butler)........... I'll just be over here watching Decision To Leave again, thanx.......Elvis is meh but strangely unfulflling too........makes me feel special and elitist and not easy to get into bed........ Side note : 45 year anniversary of Elvis' death today - August 16th - I'mmina play Money Honey which will tell me more about the King and his place in Rock and Roll than the movie tbh - RIP
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Post by stephen on Aug 16, 2022 13:15:27 GMT
Probably my favourite Baz Luhrmann joint -- but it also suffers from a lot of the same issues that keep me from loving or even liking his other movies. But at least this time around, the subject demands the glitzy erraticism. Problem is, it also suffers from the usual bloated biopic problems: it speed-runs through Elvis's life without giving time for reflection or meditation on the man himself. And that's what really undercuts Austin Butler's performance. For the first half of the film he's practically a supporting character in his own biopic, seen not just through Tom Hanks's Mephistophelian narration but through the prism of "record a hit song, dance on stage, piss off racists, react to a monumental moment in history, rinse, repeat." And in these moments, Butler is very good at evoking Elvis as we knew and saw him in those glimpses on television and in his music. It's the back half of the movie where Butler really comes alive as an actor, and it's those quieter moments that I wish the film had been more focused on.
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avnermoriarti
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Post by avnermoriarti on Aug 16, 2022 16:37:40 GMT
You know 2021 movies are in trouble when not even Luhrmann can make the extravaganzas he was used to, especially because if there's one story that could beneficiate from his style is this one, this is yet another relentlessly shallow and in your face biopic, how can you ruin Elvis' story ? The problem is the angle, it should've been an either far more celebratory or darker movie, instead it only gives hints of your favorite Elvis: humble, southern, caring about civil rights, sexually anarchic, etc. and that "satanic" figure on a fat suit is useless, I admire Hanks commitment but his colonel is painted as a totaljoke, a clown.
As much as I hated Bohemian Raphsody, at least that one ended on a high note, in this one is unbelievable how many music is missing, a missed opportunity to recreat a number or even better show the actual decline of the star, not a hint of fat/drug Elvis. I liked Butler but he is undermined by the movie, not a single scene is particularly good.
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Post by Tommen_Saperstein on Sept 6, 2022 3:00:51 GMT
I really was prepared to hate this one, and for the first 40 minutes or so I thought I would. The first portion of the film is a hard sell because Elvis perpetually feels on the outside of it, with frenetic hacked-together concert footage interspersed by Parker's silly musings. It plays like a music video, like Bohemian Rhapsody on coke. But when Butler really takes center stage and Baz's directing mellows out is when the movie started winning me over, because Butler is explosive and Baz gives him space. The final 30 minutes included some of the best moments, especially "Unchained Melody."
As for Hanks, yeah it's not a great performance but I was surprised at how little I minded him. It's goofy but he's making deliberate choices and it fits into Baz's vision without detracting from Butler.
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Nikan
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Post by Nikan on Sept 6, 2022 5:30:09 GMT
I think we use the word "vision" too often. Does becoming famous for a number of hit-or-miss trademarks makes you a known visionary? I say hit-or-miss, cause I did like Moulin' Rouge; but since that... Luhrmann has become the master of ruining beautiful things. First a Great American Novel contender, now the King of Rock and roll... Like the guy has to be stopped.
There's no point in discussing what way the movie goes through pass the minute "X" it just doesn't matter to him and his team where this train of buffoonery is headed. This Butler fella is better when he's on stage but is generally wasted thanks to the maniacal script and direction. I may still prefer Kurt Russell's portrayal to his.
And Hanks just couldn't say no this. He couldn't simply retire and leave us with good memories. He had to give us his worst performance. 3.5/10
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Post by Pittsnogle_Goggins on Sept 6, 2022 13:18:28 GMT
Once it settled down a bit after the first 20-30 min, I actually quite enjoyed it.
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forksforest
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Quit your shit-spitting
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Post by forksforest on Dec 29, 2022 5:32:15 GMT
I've essentially hated everything Baz Luhrmann has directed, his style is just so frenzied for no purpose other than OTT showmanship, it's not my vibe. But somehow, in the second half this one got me. I think it's solely due to Austin Butlers performance (which is incredible because i think i've only ever seen him in tiny stints here and there), which reallly really worked. I think the character could've been better developed (like, rather than focusing on 500 off-kilter shots, can you just focus on Elvis as a character? lol), but he really gave it his all and had me. Tom Hanks though...wtf was that lol, felt like I was watching a Disney movie villain arc . So really nothing Baz did helped the movie, but Austin alone made it tolerable and the last 45 minutes were moving enough for me to forget about the initial trainwreck.
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forksforest
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Quit your shit-spitting
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Post by forksforest on Dec 29, 2022 5:41:27 GMT
But fuck me, Tom Hanks damn near destroys this film. The more I think about it, the worse his performance gets. He's never for one second believable as a real person. The juxtaposition is worse because he's acting opposite Butler, giving a sensitive, deeply honest performance...and everytime Hanks shows up or opens his mouth, he turns the film into a cartoon. Truly one of the most ridiculous performances I've seen in a studio film at this level. If there's any justice, he'll be a Razzie frontrunner this year. 6/10 (would be higher if it weren't for Hanks, but he literally takes it down about 2 points for me. Would have loved to see someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman, if he were still alive, play Colonel Tom Parker instead. Anyone but Hanks, who is horrendously miscast & misjudged). Damn, PSH would have made a great Parker - he'd probably also be able to absorb the chaotic energy that Baz was throwing at this and still make a meaningful role out of it. Hank was just killing the credibility of it all every time he was in a scene, it was just too easy to hate him. Would've been a much better movie had the Parker character been slightly more nuanced, in a way that dynamically balanced out Butler's performance. Ugh, the more i think about it, the more i want to forget Hanks in this movie.
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Archie
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Elvis
Apr 2, 2023 17:58:55 GMT
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Post by Archie on Apr 2, 2023 17:58:55 GMT
Solid 6/10 movie, which makes it the best musical biopic since 2007.
First 30 minutes were the best. I laughed so hard when that Doja Cat song started playing. The movie needed more crazy stuff like that tbh. The second half is disappointingly formulaic and cookie-cutter, especially for a Baz Luhrmann joint. Hanks is unfortunately worse than expected.
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