Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Elvis 

This film is a intoxicating stylistic entertaining execution of the king of rock and roll brilliantly presented by Baz Luhrmann who doesn’t just bring a big bombastic showcase of what made Elvis Presley the outstanding performer he was but he also shows the human he was and the vulnerable side behind the icon and what shaped his music and his heart. It’s a film that will have you singing along but also in tears as it will educate you about things you may not have known about him but will all at once tug on your heartstrings and feel for the man who left us to early. This is definitely one of the best biopics I’ve seen in quite sometime as it doesn’t glamorize the darker elements of the lifestyle he led but shows it for what it was and I respect the honesty Baz brought to executing this story the way it had to be told in a honest and respectful portrayal of who this artist was not just celebrating his triumphs and successes but also presenting the hardships he faced with the press, family and his own demons he wrestled with in his heart and it’s evenly balanced in this roller coaster of a film that they take you on and once it starts you can’t look away if it’s from the music, the performances, the stylistic nature of it or just being taken back to when Elvis ruled the world it’s a film that will engage you the whole way. 

Firstly, This film takes an approach Elvis’s life in a fantastic way. The big addition this film takes to what made such a influence on Elvis’s love for music and what got him passionate to pick up an instrument when he was a kid was his love from Black culture and the footprint it had in music specifically and the film spends quite a lot with how the way he would dance, Sing and even carry himself as a person was from his roots in how black music raised him. It isn’t done in some politically charged way but in a loving way that showed that Elvis really respected and loved the music from the black artist of that era and their is a moment when he dose not know what he’s doing in terms of his career and is really frustrated creatively and emotionally so he goes to the primarily African American lived in neighbourhoods and he readjusts himself as that music is what got him wanting to make music so whenever he would doubt himself he would go back to what got him in love with music in the first place and the way that was woven into the story was beautifully done. The film also strips all that glamour and glitz of the stage performer of Presley and shows him as a human being which is exactly what I wanted to see and it dose not disappoint. As even hardcore Elvis fans will be blown away from what you learn about the legend as we see how shy and insecure he was and sadly how manipulated he was by his management that represented him. What makes this film so emotionally engaging is it’s ability to be as brutally honest about who Elvis was as we see him he’s this bigger then life icon that sang tons of hits that stole the heart of the nation and in this telling of Elvis they show the demons he faced and how incredibly hard his life was and the way Baz paints that canvas onscreen is done in such authentic honesty and you can’t help but admire him for it. At the same time the film is able to show how much he centred his whole life around family and how the ones around him meant to him showing us the impact his parents had on his life and his romantic partners too it’s all so well told in a film that yes is 2h and 39 minutes but I’ll say you don’t feel the runtime at least I didn’t. As the film is so engaging and the way Baz brings you into this film is so engaging you don’t notice how long the film is because your enjoying the ride he’s taking you on of This icons life. The last thing that I will say was done so damn well was it’s ability to discuss how Elvis was picked at like vultures towards the end of his career which could of skyrocketed but it’s due to his poor management that used him as a cash cow and didn’t look out for his emotional and psychical well being that contributed hugely to his death at age 42. Now they show how the police and government overstepped in his personal life and his music back in the 50’s and their narrow minded thinking caused a lot of damage not to just his career but to himself as a human being and you can see the wear and tear eat him from the inside out starting in the 50’s and by the time it’s 1975 you see the shell of a man of what he once was due to what this business did to him. It’s shown in such a truly honest light at times it’s hard to watch because yes he’s Elvis Presley the biggest solo artist who ever lived but at the end of the day he’s still a flesh and blood human being and the way he was treated by his manager Colonel Parker was disgusting and unacceptable. Baz Luhrmann presents the influence black culture and music had on his life so well the human element of who he was and the truly horrific nature of how he was treated in a realistic way and the sheer layers we see peeled back of Elvis is what makes this film so engaging along with the stylistic editing and bombastic colours and the only director that could of presented this in such a honest but also stylish way was Baz and it’s the depth that they show us of the king that makes this film stand out instead of just scratching the surface. 

Secondly, Austin freaking Butler delivers a tour de force performance of the man the myth the legend Elvis Aaron Presley. This is a truly mesmerizing turn from Austin Butler who breathes walks and sounds just like the King Of Rock and Roll the moment he comes onscreen he steals the frame with his incredible charm and amazing charismatic energy. He delved head first into this role and disappears entirely their are times where you think your watching Elvis he is that good and I’ll be shocked if he dose not get an Oscar nomination for his performance here this is a performance for the ages and holy hell is he captivating. Tom Hanks gives a entertaining performance of this devilish and despicable human by the name of Colonel Tom Parker and now we’ve never seen Tom Hanks who is widely known for playing good well rounded characters take on such a mean spirited person and it’s a huge departure from what he usually does and I like that though as we get to see Hanks explore a side of himself we haven’t ever seen him channel onscreen before. It’s a performance that at times can seem over the top but always remains engaging to watch this snake charmer of a manager slither his way through Elvis’s life and taking advantage of him at any moment he could in a crackling performance from Hanks that will have you amazed. Everyone else gives solid performances in this film but it is Austin Butler who chews the scenery in a career best performance that will blow you away. As well as a fantastic supporting turn from Tom Hanks. 

Lastly, Elvis is one of Baz Luhrmann’s best directed films ever as he explores the heart and career of Elvis Aaron Presley in an authentic and honest take on the icon. He chips away at the pedestal he’s held to and shows the man for what he was as a father, a friend and of course as a singer and all while delivering style and sharp editing keeping you engaged the whole way through. At the centre Austin Butler delivers a performance that will captivate you and bring  you to tears as Elvis truly is a film that doesn’t just do a paint by numbers biopic but truly peels back the brilliance of who this man was in such Brutal truth overall I couldn’t help falling in love with this film it’s truly one of The years best films. 

This film centres around the life and career of the incredible Elvis Aaron Presley and his rise to the top of the world as well as the forces that caused his early death at 42 

Rated PG - 13 : Substance Abuse|Strong Language|Smoking|Suggestive Material

Austin Butler :  Austin Butler delivers a tour sensational performance that will melt your brain! Now Austin Butler has been around for a while but mostly got famous due to his work on the teenage network of Family shows such as Hannah Montana, Zoey 101, and iCarley to name a few. He then recently has started to really emerge as a dramatic actor as he gave us a taste of what he could do outside of the cookie cutter family roles he got with his fantastic small but still memorable performance in 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Since then he’s not done much except for his role in the Indie comedy The Dead Don’t Die. To his credit he got the role of Elvis Presley 3 years ago and has been prepping even before he was cast as the acclaimed singer for 5 months so he’s been in the headspace of this role for quiet sometime and he took it dead seriously watching every film and documentary and reading every book of the icon that he could get his hands on. You can tell how much research and in depth method acting he did for this role because Austin Butler disappears entirely into this role and he is The King Of Rock and Roll he perfected from  head to toe the mannerisms, to the voice and even the way he walks in such a way that you are convinced it’s the real Elvis Presley it’s terrifying how much he looks and sounds alike him you cannot take your eyes off of him the moment he comes onscreen. He makes his presence known with a iron fist of charismatic energy that oozes through the frame of this film. He easily could of done this over the top cartoon parody of him but he doesn’t he strips away the glitz and glamour of Presley and showcases the human being not the celebrity and he explores the depth and emotional scars this man had along with the musical influences that crafted the sound of his music. Austin Butler captivates you with a smile or smirk and will have you melt in awe of what he’s delivering onscreen all the while he can switch his emotions within a moment and show the sheer vulnerability and hurt this man suffered if it was family tragedy or the sheer abuse he suffered from his manager he brings that raw emotional honesty to the frame. What made what I think made This performance so special is that Austin Butler explored all the sides of who this man was and didn’t do a one note performance we saw the family man, the son he was to his mother and father, the entertainer and he soaks all of that up and presents it in such an electric way that you will be in awe as he looks terrifyingly accurate to the real performer. I also respect the amount of commitment he did for this role as he didn’t want to let the loyal fans down that’s followed Elvis’s music for so long as well as his family Butler approaches the role with such a respect and dedication to make sure he did this icon justice in the most accurate way possible and he did just that. When he speaks you’ll be blown away at the honesty you hear in every word from when he sings to when he speaks its truly an outstanding performance and every emotion you can feel it’s coming from such a real place in his soul. Austin Butler explores and shows the heart of the human being of Elvis Presley in a emotional, captivating, jaw dropping performance that deserves to be in the conversation come award season it’s a truly phenomenal performance that is a career best performance by Austin Butler. 

Baz Luhrmann : Luhrmann delivers some of the finest direction of his incredible career with His take on Elvis! Now Baz Luhrmann is to me one of the best stylistic directors that loves to paint his films with such vibrant colours and intoxicate the viewers with his  energetic and bombastic editing. He loves to bring his audience on a ride and truly give them a escape into the world he’s created and carved onscreen he’s known for doing that and here I would say it’s his one of his strongest directed films he’s done ever. As he’s never done a biopic before he’s shown the circus life with Moulin Rouge he’s done book adaptations with Romeo + Juliet and The Great Gatsby but never a biopic before. And mixing Elvis with Baz’s style of direction is a perfect combination as Elvis has that glitter and larger then life personality and lifestyle which is perfect for Luhrmann and honestly I could only see him being this story of Elvis to the screen because he yes gives the fun colours and editing that makes it the fun ride but he does the singer justice with how accurate the film is as well. Sure it takes some creative liberties in order to make some events more dramatic for the sake of the film but be really stays true to who this man was. As taking on his entire life is no easy feat as theirs so much ground you have to cover and he delivers on all of that as he shows his childhood and upbringing to the musical influences he had then the slow rise to fame leading all the way to his death in 1977. He covers all of it and it never felt rushed as he shows the life of Elvis from the perspective of his sinister manager Colonel Tom Parker and I found that to be a interesting way into the film as many people don’t know who his manager really was in his private life which they also explore which was fantastic. An aspect of this film that impressed me was The amount of attention he put on the black culture of that time and the impact that black music had on his career and personal life it wasn’t done in some political way it was done in a loving way that he acknowledges where Elvis got his sound from which he embraces beautifully in the film which to me was one of the highlights of the story. And having him show Elvis the human and not Elvis the celebrity was very important as yes we see the fame and success this man had but his focus was to show the human being for who he was behind closed doors that people don’t know about and to explore that and then the celebrity persona second. Not only did it work better in terms of executing the biopic but it made me more engaged into the film it was done so respectfully and he also lets Austin Butler have centre stage with a performance that is jaw dropping amazing. This is truly the definitive Elvis Biopic yes their have been films that tackled the singer before but not this length of detail and it’s truly a incredible piece of film and a beautifully crafted film by Baz Luhrmann giving one of the best directed films he’s ever crafted.