Elvis Reviews Praise Butler's Acting & Movie's Visuals (But Not Much Else)
The reviews are in for Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, with critics voicing their thoughts on the first cinematic biopic of the legendary rock icon. Charting the life and career of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) from his early years to his international status as the «King of Rock and Roll», the film will also explore Presley's problematic relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Featuring an ensemble cast that also boasts Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Olivia DeJonge, Luke Bracey, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Dacre Montgomery, the movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is slated to release in the United States on June 24.
Directed, co-produced, and co-written by Luhrmann, the biopic marks the Australian filmmaker's first movie in nine years following his 2013 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's romantic drama The Great Gatsby. However, the director had been in talks to direct an Elvis Presley movie as far back as 2014, although there was no more development on the biopic until 2019, with production beginning in early 2020. Filming was then postponed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Hanks and his wife Rita testing positive, and didn't recommence until September of that year. But once completed, Elvis gained praise from Presley's relatives, most notably from his daughter, granddaughter, and ex-wife.
Related: Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Biopic Could Fix The Great Gatsby's Mistakes
Now, the first reviews for Luhrmann's biopic are rolling in thanks to those who were able to catch the Elvis' Cannes premiere. While most of the criticism is directed at the film's reluctance to explore Presley's life in more depth as well as its breakneck pace, the movie has been praised for Luhrmann's spectacular
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