Colonel JD

I was in the theater for opening night of Elvis, the Baz Luhrmann biopic about the King of Rock and Roll starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. I have seen it three more times since. As a lifelong super fan since the age of seven (when I first saw Elvis on my TV performing the Aloha from Hawaii concert in 1973) my anticipation for this film was understandably elevated. But I did not want to be disappointed either. So I tried to absorb all of the early good reviews from critics with a grain of salt. The film was marketed exceptionally well with trailers that were creative and helped produce a real buzz about the film. As reported in the Hollywood press, theaters across the nation were packed on opening night and mine was no exception. Anyone who follows Rotten Tomatoes knows that critics reviews are one thing, but it's the audience reviews that are usually a more accurate predictor of a film's success. And those audience reviews are topping at 90% plus positive! Mine joins this cacophony of praise, because Elvis the film did not disappoint. As others have pointed out, this is Baz Luhrmann's greatest cinematic achievement. Elvis will immediately be listed among the top two or three greatest musician biopics ever made. Austin Butler turns in an Oscar-worthy performance as the lead character. The decision to tell Elvis's story from the perspective of his manager Tom Parker was fresh, even if the Colonel's narrative ends up being an indictment of himself. Luhrmann's storytelling does a great job explaining the historical roots of rock and roll music. He delves deep into the influence of the African-American church on young Elvis, and explores the emerging superstar's friendships with BB King, Little Richard and Mahalia Jackson. This is done in a way that honors and explains the critical contributions of black music to the development of modern popular music. Even if one is not an Elvis fan, this history alone will help fans of all artists appreciate how this genre came to be. Like all great biographies in the Shakespearean tradition, the Elvis story is both a triumph and a tragedy. Despite it's two and a half hour length, it is never boring and is ultimately poignant and sad. But you will leave the theater with a greater appreciation for the overwhelming talent, magnetism and power that changed the course of culture and music forever.

Beautiful cinematography, extremely well acted, and a poignant storyline that explores the consequences (good or bad) of our relationship decisions. But the pacing was just sooooo slow. This is the one great flaw that holds the film back from potentially being great. Make sure you've had a good cup of coffee or a Mountain Dew before you go.