Movie Poster

A reverend once told me, "When things that are too dangerous to say, sing."

# Review

Austin Butler plays the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. The biopic on Elvis follows his entire eventful life, focusing on the earlier years, and is told from the perspective of his controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

Butler is amazing in his role; not only does he perfectly portray the King’s physicality, but also the King’s deep and rich voice. Butler actually sang many of Elvis' songs, which is impressive. Hanks’ creepy Colonel Parker is also good but definitely should have gotten less screen time so Butler could’ve gotten more. The other supporting cast, which includes Elvis’ family: his wife Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge), his emotional mother Gladys (Helen Thomson), and his meek father Vernon (Richard Roxburgh), are also good but unmemorable.

The film also features various musical legends such as B. B. King (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Hank Snow (David Wenham). I especially enjoyed how the film portrayed Elvis’ African American influences, such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Yola), Arthur Cruddup (Gary Clark Jr.), and Little Richard (Alton Mason), which is cool for music nerds. Overall, the film portrays an Elvis that on one hand is used and manipulated by people around him, but is also obsessed with pleasing his fans and using his talents for causes he believes in.

# Conclusion

The film could've used more Butler.

# Overall rating: 7.9

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