Elvis * * * *

 Legend has it that toward the end of his life Elvis used to enjoy a midnight snack of a loaf of bread, stuffed with 500g of bacon, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of grape jelly.  

This is not mentioned in the film "Elvis" by Baz Luhrman, but I refer to it, as watching the film is rather like force feeding yourself the above.  I mean, there is a lot of it! (2 hour and 40 minutes to be exact) and it leans more toward the pig-out diet than the gourmet.  This ain't no degustation.

I reckon Baz is to cinema what Versace is to fashion: unrestrained brassy, colourful, identifiable and full on - not to mention highly artistic and creative of course.

Whether Elvis is a truly accurate biography of Elvis Presley is unlikely, but it's certainly a glorious celebration of his life.  It's uncritical as well. I cannot think of one scene where Elvis is shown in a bad light. It's like Baz Lurhman decided the hero must not disappoint - and he doesn't.   He makes you love him even to the end scenes where he climbs into his private jet and fly's off, betrayed, divorced, overweight, lost for direction, but still with a regal presence.

Lead actor Austin Butler is a magnificent Elvis. He's got the looks he's got the voice - and Boy, has he got the moves!  The gyrations of young Elvis caused a sensation, making decent young women behave in a way that they never had before.  All those moves are exaggerated to the max in this film - along with the girls reaction to it.  His early appearances come across as the best rock concerts you could ever hope to attend. 

Elvis is back in the building.

When it comes to the songs, if you're a purist this might not be for you.  Most of them are re-recorded, treated, embellished and frequently "sampled" by modern (and even rap) artists.  The upside of that though, is the impressive sound quality - its thumpingly good!

The story is told through his manager Colonel Tom Parker,  and almost as much insight is given into the Colonel's life as his protégé.  Angry at the way he has been investigated and condemned since Elvis's death, he unconvincingly tries to explain things from his perspective. Tom Parker is played excellently by a well made up Tom Hanks.  

It's a big film and it cover the whole 42 years of Elvis Presley's life. From the child Elvis having an epiphany that "dirty' music and gospel make for an intoxicating mix, to him hanging out on Beale St, getting influenced by the blues, meeting the Colonel, rocketing to fame, getting drafted, then rebuilding his career - mostly under the direction of the pernicious, manipulative and self guidance of  The Colonel. Ironically, the times when Elvis is at his best is when he chooses to ignore The Colonel's instructions and do his own thing.

Like James Bond or some of those monster size franchise films, in some ways, Elvis comes across as an event.  A huge rollercoaster ride.  But Elvis takes the risks that creative cinema should take, resulting in an "event" that is less predictable, and certainly more memorable.

Elvis is good. Well worth seeing.