Click here for the basics
Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3
Biopic, Music, Race, 1950s-1970s
All films are a product of the time when they were created--even historical dramas or biopics. It's impossible not to have some contemporary elements or sensibilities seep in. Baz Luhrmann always impresses me with his ability to make a film that showcases this. His films both overtly and subtlety blend classic stories with today. He is a master of adaptation.
To make a film about Elvis seems perfect. I would argue that Elvis is Luhrmann's best film yet, and definitely his best adaptation. Everyone knows who Elvis is and knows his music. And most people understand the significance of his music and actions on both the musical world and American culture. But Luhrmann is able to show the magnitude of Elvis's impact through unique scripting (plot devices and choices) and editing and a powerful score/soundtrack. The film mimics its subject in so many ways.
There is also a nod to the world of the carnival and films like Nightmare Alley. Elvis is a tragedy, telling us how one of the first great American icons/heroes became a sideshow geek...
Mesmerizing film, amazing performances, brilliant musical choices.
--Don't understand the ratings? Click here
