Elvis

 2.5/4

Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge

Rated PG-13 for Substance Abuse, Strong Language, Suggestive Material and Smoking

"Elvis" is two films in one.  One is wretched, the other is a solid if familiar showbiz drama.  When the film slows down long enough to tell us a story, the film works.  But too often co-writer/director Baz Luhrmann falls victim to self-indulgence.  There is a line between flourish and showing off, and he is frequently on the wrong side of it.

It's a shame, too, considering what the film has going for it.  Tom Hanks may be the biggest name in the cast and the film is told from Colonel Tom Parker's point of view (a deathbed confession), but it's young Austin Butler who steals the show.  The up and coming California native is phenomenal as the music legend, capturing Elvis's talent, energy, naïveté and sense of rebellion.  He throws himself into the role, reminding us that while movie stars have their place, it is not always wise to cast them.  Butler is a fresh face, and that makes the hurdle to accept him as Elvis much, much easier than if it were a well-known star.  For his part, the only real criticism I have about Tom Hanks is that his accept slips from time to time.  That is a minor quibble.  More importantly is that Hanks gets the essence of the man he is playing.  There is no denying Parker's ambition and gift for showmanship, but he's also a master of deception.  There are very few moments where we don't get the sense that he has ulterior motives regarding his client (or rather cash cow).

Subtlety has never been a trademark of Baz Luhrmann.  This is the man who gave us "Moulin Rouge!" and decided to shoot "The Great Gatsby" in 3D.  He's no hack, but like many expressive filmmakers, sometimes his exuberance goes too far.  The firs half is nearly unwatchable because of all of its excesses.  Luhrmann throws so much at the screen that it becomes all but impossible to follow a story or identify with the characters.  It feels like an hour long trailer.  Scenes and characters are introduced or written out with little introduction or context.  Many work in isolation but the connecting thread is tenuous at best.  It's true that the film has a lot of ground to cover, but there is a sense that he is doing too much at once.  Cutting between concerts, flashbacks and showing how Presley became inspired to create his music would try the talents of even the best filmmakers, and Luhrmann is no exception.

When the film enters its second half, Luhrmann calms down and lets the actors and the music do their work.  This material may not be original, but the strength of the two actors gives the film its energy.  Their relationship, which was never healthy, curdles.  Elvis is talented but rebellious, and Parker at times struggles to keep him in line.  But the singer also needs to grow, and that runs into conflict with Parker's needs for secrecy and wealth.  The push and pull between the two generates a lot of dramatic tension.

Is "Elvis" worth seeing?  It's tough to say.  I really enjoyed the parts that I liked but was simply exasperated by Luhrmann's excess.  Tom Hanks and especially Austin Butler give it their all, and their hard work is worth seeing.  Then of course there is the plethora of great music.

In the end, I cannot in good conscience say that it's worth sacrificing two-and-a-half hours of time for.  But there is some good stuff to be found in "Elvis."  You have to be patient, but it's there.  Trust me on this.