"Elvis" review: Baz Luhrmann's glitz and glam only occasionally succeed
"Elvis," 2022, directed by Baz Luhrmann ★★★☆ ☆ When it came to a crafting a biopic to depict the glitzy, raunchy life of the iconic Elvis Presley, “Moulin Rouge” director Baz Luhrmann was probably the only man for the job. His bedazzled, melodramatic style fits the rocker’s life in a way that few other directors’ do, and such a unique, surreal approach to biographical storytelling feels like a breath of fresh air compared to other recent releases in the genre like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Rocketman”. This isn’t to say Luhrmann’s “Elvis” is great or even all that compelling; it has its fair share of missteps and eye-roll-worthy dialogue, but it’s nothing if not visually entrancing and entertaining. Austin Butler takes on the persona of Presley believably and with incredible grace, but much of the music legend’s story is told through the lens of infamous manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Hanks puts on a ridiculous Dutch accent, and wears an even less believable fat suit...