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Elvis 4K UHD Review

Austin Butler wows in ‘Elvis.’

Told through the eyes of Elvis Presley’s longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker, ‘Elvis’ is a music biopic about the titular King of Rock and Roll. While the dynamic between Tom Parker and Elvis is a major focal point, the story does chronicle the life of Elvis. His childhood in Tupelo, music influences, journey to becoming a musician (and his rise to stardom), military stint, film career, family, concerts (including the Las Vegas residency) and health and addiction struggles are but some of the topics covered. On top of that, director Baz Luhrmann also touches upon the impact Elvis had on pop culture and the music world.

Written by Baz Luhrmann, Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Doner, ‘Elvis’ is a music biopic done in a decidedly Baz Luhrmann esque fashion. It’s big, stylish, full of spectacle, overly energetic and frantic as can be. Luhrmann attempts to buck biopic traditions, but it ultimately does succumb to standard rise and fall biopic cliches. There’s not much in the way of breathing room here either as Luhrmann races through the entire life of Elvis. The story may have benefited more from focusing on a certain time or subject, but since this is largely about Elvis and Col. Tom Parker, it’s easy to see why Luhrmann and company wanted a wider scope. Still, it does deserve credit for displaying Elvis Presley’s own musical influences including Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Even with all the familiar biopic tropes, ‘Elvis’ entertains largely because of the two central performances. Austin Butler is a revelation as Elvis. His mannerisms, electric stage presence, and singing are spot on. He really does channel “The King” here and he’s the reason to watch this movie. It will be exciting to see what this rising star does next in his acting career. As for Tom Hanks, he gives an over-the-top performance with a strange accent and yet it’s nothing short of fascinating. Eventually, you’ll find yourself settling into Hanks’ take on the real life figure. You’ll also see Hanks have some real acting range here as this performance is a real departure from his usual fare as Col. Tom Parker was a very unpleasant huckster.

Music wise, the recreated music sequences are great. Austin Butler obviously shines during these moments. What really bothered me though was the use of modern music covers/reimaginings of Elvis songs by the likes of Doja Cat and Eminem. Yes, they were likely created for soundtrack sales, but they are entirely distracting and feel like a pitiful cash grab to attract a younger crowd. If you’re making an Elvis movie, you want to hear REAL Elvis tracks.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? A vibrant and colorful print.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? The Atmos track soars with this audio intensive film.
Extras:
* Digital copy
* Blu-ray copy
* The option to jump to the musical moments
* A “Trouble” lyric video
* ‘Bigger Than Life: The Story Of Elvis’- A 22 minute behind-the-scenes featurette with interviews, set footage, film clips, discussions about Elvis and the approach to this movie and more.
* ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Royalty: The Music And Artists Behind Elvis’- A look at the music recordings for the movie.
* ‘Fit For A King: The Style Of Elvis’ is all about the costumes.
* ‘Viva Australia: Recreating Iconic Locations For Elvis’- Self-explanatory featurette

September 10, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Austin Butler, Biopic, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis 4K UHD Review, Elvis Presley, Elvis Soundtrack