
Elvis
2022, PG-13, 159 min. Directed by Baz Luhrmann. Starring Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Nicholas Bell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Alton Mason, Luke Bracey, David Wenham, Richard Roxburgh, Natasha Bassett, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Elizabeth Cullen.
REVIEWED By Tim Stegall, Fri., June 24, 2022
Since his death 45 years ago (three years longer than he lived), rock & roll legend Elvis Presley has been portrayed on screens large and small countless times. Five such projects all bear the simple title Elvis, including a single-season 1990 TV series concentrating on the Sun Records era, and 2005’s mini-series featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the title role. The best was the first: A three hour 1979 TV movie directed by John Carpenter, which began his long association with Kurt Russell, who has thus far held the title as the onscreen Elvis to beat. Russell might have finally met his match in Austin Butler, star of the latest Elvis, Baz Luhrmann’s summer blockbuster turn at the tale.
2022’s Elvis is a typical Luhrmann film: lush, grandiose, epic, stylish to the millionth degree. It plays fast and loose with the timeline a few times, such as having Presley perform “Trouble,” written in 1958 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the movie King Creole, at a key Memphis date in 1956. Or portraying Presley’s career under threat from real-life segregationist Sen. Jim Eastland (Bell), but seemingly moving the Dixiecrat from Mississippi to Tennessee in service of the story arc. Or claiming Presley was offered Army service rather than face the ruin of his astronomical career trajectory, because he was such a threat to the established order. Sure, this is not a documentary, and dramatic license is a legitimate cinematic tool. So if Quentin Tarantino can have Rick Dalton save Sharon Tate from the Manson Family, then Luhrmann can give Elvis the choice of the Army or jail for shaking his moneymaker onstage and giving the good daughters of Dixie indecent thoughts.
Also, does the timeless nature of Elvis Presley’s music really require the hip-hop remixes that are also another Luhrmann soundtrack hallmark? True, cementing Presley’s connection to Black music by boomeranging it through Black music’s current generation is interesting. But Luhrmann actually makes Presley’s spiritual and musical debt concrete by portraying B.B. King (Harrison Jr.), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Yola), Little Richard (Mason), and Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (Austin’s own Gary Clark Jr. in a cameo). All are fully fleshed characters integral to the storyline, as all were to rock & roll’s development. Dropping dope beats into “That’s All Right” kinda overstates the point.
From a technical standpoint, the production is dazzling. The use of split screens and carefully controlled color saturation as storytelling elements are fantastic. The hair and costuming is deadly accurate – every era portrayed looks documentary-real. Elvis’ plot is the complicated relationship between narrator Col. Tom Parker (Hanks) and Presley. This was an artist with uncanny instincts, and Parker’s carny-bred con artistry frequently spayed and neutered his exclusive client. Luhrmann's film captures their bizarre dynamic beautifully. It helps having brilliant actors: Parker might be one of Hanks’ rare villains, but he simultaneously humanizes him. (However, his bizarre choice to give Parker a Dutch accent he never had makes you expect him to utter at any moment, “No, Mr. Bond. I want you to die!”) And Butler inhabits the role of Elvis Presley the way Jim Carrey reincarnated Andy Kaufman. It’s astonishing watching the former Nickelodeon star practically slip on Presley’s skin and operate his voice box, doing most of the vocals himself. Most importantly, he reveals the man swiveling those hips. If Butler and Hanks don’t win Oscars next year, the Academy is full of fools, fools, fools.
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
14028 Hwy. 183 N., 512/861-7070, www.drafthouse.com/austin/theater/lakeline
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
Alamo Drafthouse Mueller
1911 Aldrich #120, 512/572-1425, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/mueller
Sat., July 2
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Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane
5701 W. Slaughter, 512/861-7060, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/slaughter-lane
Showtimes at this venue are subject to frequent change. Please confirm daily times by phone or website.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
1120 S. Lamar, 512/861-7040, www.drafthouse.com/theater/south-lamar
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
AMC Dine-In Tech Ridge 10
12625 N. I-35, 512/640-1533, www.amctheatres.com
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
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Barton Creek Square (AMC)
2901 Capital of Texas Hwy. S., 512/306-1991, www.amctheatres.com
Matinee discounts available before 4pm daily. Bring Your Baby matinees the first Tuesday of every month.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
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Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Thu., July 7
Cinemark 20 and XD
N. I-35 & FM 1825, 512/989-8535
Cost for 3-D and XD shows is regular ticket price plus a premium.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Cinemark Cedar Park
1335 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, 800/326-3264
Call theatre for complete list of movies and showtimes.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
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Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Cinemark Hill Country Galleria 14
12812 Hill Country Blvd., 800/326-3264, www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=377
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
Cinemark Round Rock
4401 N. I-35, Round Rock, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium. Call theatre for complete March 26-28 showtimes.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Cinemark Southpark Meadows
9900 S. I-35, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center
18820 Hilltop Commercial Dr., 512/251-0938, www.cinemark.com
Sat., July 2
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Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Cinergy Marble Falls
2600 Hwy 281 North, Marble Falls, www.showbizcinemas.com/cinema-info/marble-falls/
Sat., July 2
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Thu., July 7
City Lights Theatre
420 Wolf Ranch Parkway, Georgetown, 512/868-9922
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
Evo Cinemas Belterra
166 Hargraves Ste. A-100, 512/457-0700, www.evocinemas.com/belterra
Sat., July 2
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Tue., July 5
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Thu., July 7
EVO Entertainment
3200 Kyle Crossing, Kyle, 512/523-9009, www.evo-entertainment.com
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Film Alley Bastrop
1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop, 512/321-0123, bastrop.filmalley.net/
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
Flix Brewhouse
2200 S. I-35, Round Rock, 512/244-3549, www.flixbrewhouse.com/round-rock
Sat., July 2
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Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Galaxy Highland 10
6700 Middle Fiskville, 512/467-7305, www.galaxytheatres.com
No one under 18 will be allowed in the theatre on Friday or Saturday after 7pm without an adult.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
Wed., July 6
Gateway Theatre
9700 Stonelake, 512/416-5700
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Sat., July 2
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Thu., July 7
Hometown Cinemas
120 MLK Jr. Industrial Blvd. W, Lockhart, 512/398-4100, www.hometowncinemas.com
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
iPic Theaters Austin
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, 512/568-3400, www.ipic.com
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
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Metropolitan
901 Little Texas, 512/447-0101
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Sat., July 2
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Moviehouse & Eatery
8300 FM 620 N., Bldg. B, 512/501-3520, www.themoviehouse.com/trails/
Sat., July 2
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Moviehouse & Eatery - Lantana Place
7415 Southwest Pkwy., Bldg. 7, 512/572-0770, www.themoviehouse.com/lantana/
Sat., July 2
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Southwest Theaters at Lake Creek 7
13729 Research #1500, 512/291-3158, www.southwesttheaters.com
$6.50 children and senior tickets (all-day), $5 Tuesdays (all tickets), Bargain Matinees before 5pm daily.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
Tue., July 5
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Thu., July 7
The Spot Cinema Eatery & Social Haus
1180 Thorpe Lane #130, San Marcos, 512/210-8600, www.evo-entertainment.com/locations/the-spot/
Sat., July 2
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Wed., July 6
Violet Crown Cinema
434 W. Second, 512/495-9600, www.violetcrowncinema.com
Four-hour parking validation in attached garage with ticket purchase. Reserved seating; bar and cafe on-site.
Sat., July 2
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Westgate 11
4477 S. Lamar, 512/899-2717
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Sat., July 2
Sun., July 3
Mon., July 4
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Thu., July 7
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Austin Powell, Feb. 24, 2010
Margaret Moser, Aug. 17, 2007
Kimberley Jones, May 10, 2013
Kimberley Jones, Nov. 28, 2008
July 1, 2022
June 10, 2022
Elvis, Baz Luhrmann, Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Nicholas Bell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Alton Mason, Luke Bracey, David Wenham, Richard Roxburgh, Natasha Bassett, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Elizabeth Cullen