Austin Butler’s performance as the King is the clear standout in Baz Luhrmann’s memorable musical extravaganza.
Elvis is currently available on HBO Max, bringing with it an extravaganza of the King’s music and the excess of an enormous Baz Luhrmann film. I advise going into the movie knowing that, for better or worse, the movie is a blur because of how chaotic Elvis Presley’s life was.
Elvis is a psychedelic fever dream of Presley’s formative years, meteoric climb to stardom, scandal, and ultimate demise. We see the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s soaring highs, hard-hitting lows, and undoubtedly memorable moments through the eyes of his scheming manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks).
It’s undeniable that Elvis is an engaging film, complete with all the sparkle and glamour you’d anticipate from a Presley biopic, but it leans more toward being a tribute to director Baz Luhrmann’s visual aesthetic than to the King.
Some of the sad and traumatic moments in Elvis Presley’s life are overshadowed by Baz Luhrmann’s own brand of visual excess and filmmaking extravagance, which is well known from 2013’s The Great Gatsby and 2001’s Moulin Rouge. However, if you can get past the nausea and distraction caused by Luhrmann’s more bizarre decisions, there is a lot to enjoy about the movie.
Austin Butler, a rising star in the making, delivers a masterful performance as Elvis, fusing his own vocals with those of the King to create a multilayered transition from the 1950s to Elvis’ later years. Given the prevalence of Elvis impersonators, Butler’s ability to play the part without conforming to stereotypes is impressive, as is his dedication to perfecting Presley’s signature moves and The Voice.
There have been rumours that the actor’s decision to utilize method acting throughout the two years of filming has actually had an impact on his everyday speech, but let’s be honest: If that’s the worst thing his method acting brings out in him, so be it.
With his own voices merging with those of the King to create a complex transition from the 1950s to Elvis’ dying years, rising sensation Austin Butler delivers a masterful performance as the King. Given how many Elvis impersonators there are in the world, Butler’s ability to play the part without falling into stereotype is commendable. He also deserves praise for his dedication to mastering The Voice and Presley’s signature moves.
However, let’s be honest: If that’s the worst thing his method acting brings out in him, then so be it. There have been rumours that the actor’s method acting for the entire two years of filming has actually affected his day-to-day speech.