Elvis: Baz Luhrmann Does What Baz Luhrmann Does Best (For Better or Worse)

Okay, so I finally saw "Elvis" and wow, what a ride! Baz Luhrmann is never one for subtlety, is he? The whole thing felt like a fever dream, a sparkly, sequined fever dream. Austin Butler is absolutely electric as Elvis. Seriously, the way he embodied Elvis's moves and charisma... incredible. My jaw actually dropped during the 'Hound Dog' performance scene at the Louisiana Hayride. You could feel the energy radiating off the screen. I kinda wish the film focused more on the music and less on Colonel Tom Parker's… everything. Tom Hanks as Parker... interesting choice. He was suitably creepy and manipulative, but sometimes the accent felt a little too cartoonish, you know? Like he was hamming it up just a bit too much. Visually, it's stunning, of course. Luhrmann's signature style is all over it – the quick cuts, the extravagant costumes, the swirling camera movements. It's almost overwhelming at times! I wasn't sure if I was watching a biopic or a really long, expensive music video for a while there. I did appreciate the portrayal of the Black gospel influences on Elvis's music. That's a really important piece of his story that often gets overlooked, and I liked how it was weaved into the narrative, even if it felt a bit simplified in some parts. Overall, I enjoyed it. It's a visually spectacular and musically driven experience. However, the story and its historical accuracy sometimes got lost amidst all the glitter and frenetic energy. I walked out feeling entertained but also slightly overstimulated. Still, Austin Butler's performance alone is worth the price of admission. He truly transformed into Elvis, and that's something special. What did everyone else think? Was the Colonel too over-the-top for anyone else or just me? One last thing! Did any other International Film buffs feel that the ending was a bit.. rushed? I feel like the later part of Elvis's career and life was just quickly gone through.