Bring home ‘Elvis’

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

I’m sure many women would have loved to “bring home Elvis.” But alas, they must settle for memories, movies, music, and now this new film Elvis, which is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Austin Butler as the king of rock and roll. The film delves into the iconic entertainer and looks at his life and career, narrated in part by Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

From his rise to stardom through the stress and complications of being the king of rock and roll, the story also plays out against the backdrop of the decades. Olivia DeLonge is Priscilla, his girlfriend then wife and mother of his only child Lisa Marie.

The cinematography makes this story different than a usual biopic. It is artistic which is evident from the beginning. With plenty of songs peppered throughout the film, diehard fans of the entertainer will undoubtedly enjoy the film. It is, however, a little slow moving.

There are plenty of bonus features included on the Blu-ray and 4K discs. A “making of” feature looks at the creation of the film. The story of Elvis strips away the icon and makes him more relatable to the viewers. American history plays out as an undertone in the film, which also looks at how gospel music played an important part in Elvis’ life and music.

Austin Butler is Elvis. He takes on the role that has been played by many actors in the past, however Butler does the singer more justice than anyone else has. He studied all things Elvis when accepting the role. He also paid a visit to Graceland where he immersed himself in the famous home of Elvis and looked at his belongings.

Another bonus looks at the costumes that also play an important part in the film. After all, we all know about Elvis’ attire through the years and recreating them was important to the filmmakers.

Believe it or not, the film was shot on location in Australia. Yes, Australia. They recreated Graceland from blueprints of the estate and decorated it in the current fashion. The house had been updated through the years, but the filmmakers know that fans that visit the estate now will want to see it as it is. And as Butler said, when he stepped inside the set of Graceland, he felt as though he was back in Memphis.

Several more special features are included.

To be honest, the best and most amazing aspect of this film is Austin Butler. There are many times when the camera will catch him at a certain angle and it is impossible to tell the difference between the real Elvis and this actor. He is that good at recreating Elvis in both look and sound. It’s truly amazing and he deserves accolades for his performance. It is evident he gave it his all.

Elvis is rated PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material, and smoking.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 28 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

 

This disc was sent to me by Warner Bros. for review.