WARNING: this is an extremely long review, nearly a play by play of almost every part of the movie with an extremely biased opinion by an EXTREMELY critical Elvis fan.
For YEARS I have been debating whether or not I wanted to watch the 2005 made for TV biopic "Elvis" starring Johnathon Rhys Meyers. I didn't really get into Elvis until early 2006 and the premiere was long over. If I could have watched it live on TV, I might have been more inclined to do so. But I never really wanted to watch it, because I didn't feel Johnathon emulated Elvis, he didn't look like him or sound like him to me, and all the clips I saw of him lip syncing to Elvis's real voice didn't seem believable.
I watched both the 1979 Kurt Russell movie as well as the 1990 TV series starring Michael St. Gerard. While both didn't really tell "the whole story" and we're sugar coated to some extent I could buy both Kurt and Michael as Elvis much more than what I had seen of Johnathon. But I still was curious about this movie. I finally decided to sit down and watch it. (Luckily I found it on YouTube, so if it was terrible I wouldn't have wasted my money and be stuck with a DVD I didn't want.)
Right from the beginning I had problems with it (yes, I am VERY picky when it comes to Elvis). It opens with the "in the round" stage where Elvis performed the sit down & stand up shows in the '68 Comeback, an eager audience awaiting his debut. An over enthusiastic voice repeats "he IS coming...." cut to Elvis's dressing room, Elvis in his famous black leather suit, his face in his hands "I can't do it...what if they don't think I'm any good" "not any good, Elvis you invented Rock and Roll" just too over dramatic.
Flashback to 1953, teenage Elvis getting ready for school. My first serious problem is Johnathon Rhys Meyer's hair (I know, but Elvis's hair is one of my favorite features of his, I'm going to be picky.) a big production is made of all the products he puts in his hair to perfect his signature coif, but the pompadour falls flat, literally. It looks like his hair glued to the top of his head. I already know it will bother me throughout the entire film, so I try to overlook it, but seriously, Elvis's hair is so iconic, I don't understand missing the mark on that.
Elvis interacts with his parents Gladys and Vernon (ironically portrayed by the same actor who played Johnny Cash's father in the 2005 film "Walk The Line") he goes to school, goes out with his friends to hear the black musicians on Beale St., at this point I feel like I am either watching a much older low budget TV show or a play about Elvis's life.
Then we meet Elvis's high school sweetheart Dixie Locke, the only time I see a slight bit of Elvis come out so far, when he talks about keeping his hands off of Dixie "nothing six inches above the knees, and nothing above the belly button".
Then, the big moment when Elvis walks into Sun Studio for the first time to make a record "for his mama's birthday" I found it charming when he pulled out a handful of quarters to pay the $3.89 for the acid tape, although I've never heard that he did that. But as soon as he got into the recording booth it killed it for me, Elvis's actual first recording of "My Happiness" is just so not believable coming from his mouth. He exits Sun, record in hand and lets out a "whoo!", just so not Elvis to me...but again I'm picky.
THEN the first official recording session at Sun. we all know the story Elvis, Scotty and Bill are playing slow songs that just aren't cutting it. Sam Phillips ( a scrawny guy with a bad attitude, why is Sam Phillips always played by a scrawny guy with a bad attitude? (Walk The Line, hello) Sam Phillips should be larger than life, over the top with the voice of a southern preacher and very vocal about his opinions, but not pissy. The only time Sam Phillips was right was in Great Balls of Fire.)Anyway, he talks down to Elvis telling him he sounds like a cheap imitation of Chet Atkins, Elvis apologizes and Sam says "that's alright, Elvis." THAT'S ALRIGHT? I can't believe they went there...CHEEEEEESY! Then Johnathon starts singing this high pitched PITCHY "thaaaaat's alriiiiiight mammmaaaaaaaa" over and over and over again. Sam's jaw drops open, "whoa whoa whao, what the hell was that?" "Elvis"'s hair is annoying the crap out of me cause it's stringy and falling all over the place (what happened the 7 different kinds of grease he put in it?) THEN, miraculously Johnathon's voice turns into Elvis's.
"That's Alright Mama" plays on the radio, Gladys and Vernon find Elvis in the movie theater, the only time so far that Johnathon has slightly resembled Elvis (in the dark)."They've played the record 7 times...they want to interview you." Another loud "whoooooo", not something I feel the shy, timid, 19 year old Elvis would do while he was scared to death about his voice being heard on the radio for the first time.
Elvis's first real performance: and my second biggest problem Johnathon Rhys Meyers CAN'T DANCE, and his hair looks TERRIBLE (be prepared to read that a lot.) At this point I would also like to bring up the fact that the actors playing Scotty Moore and Bill Black should have switched places. They both embody the other's characteristics and mannerisms. After the performance is over, Elvis is a little too enthusiastic and too confident. Then a montage of tours across the country, JRM is somewhat more believable in these quick clips, some in black and white with Elvis's "Good Rockin' Tonight" playing in the background.
Enter The Colonel. Elvis asks the boys if they saw the "fat guy with the straw hat" and Scotty (who should be Bill) explains he manages Eddie Arnold. Bill (who should be Scotty) says "that's Colonel Parker?", again I get that play vibe. I WILL say Randy Quaid is spot on the perfect choice to play Colonel Tom Parker, shady, seedy, creepy. Exactly what you think of when you think of The Colonel, as he has come to be known as "the villain" in the Elvis story. "I can sell it, I can sell anything." sums up the Colonel's image.
As Elvis's popularity rises, Dixie becomes jealous of all the attention Elvis is getting from female fans and all of the time he's spending away from her. "I neeeeed to spend some time with youuuu." "Baby, these cats on the Louisiana Hayride have us booked solid." "Cats? I've. Lost. You." OMG SOAP OPERA...what the hell??? "Dixie, I love you, it's not gonna be like this forever. "Then call me when it's over, it's too hard this way."
A talk with "Scotty" about Jesse Garon and mama...I'm watching a play.
Elvis's contract is handed over to RCA. The colonel has him booked on the Dorsey brother's stage show. I think I've realized one of the main problems is the overall look of the movie, muted colors the set doesn't look like Memphis, the clothes don't look like Elvis. If I didn't know what I was watching and had just tuned in, it would take me a second to realize what or who the movie was about.
Off to New York, the first RCA recording session. PLAY. PLAY. PLAY. The guys are being silly, maybe I'm wrong but I would think Elvis would be very anxious about this and would want to make a good first impression, then get rowdy later on. As Elvis declares HE'S the one who wants to record Heartbreak Hotel, (not sure if that's exactly true to fact, I know the RCA execs weren't to thrilled with the recording at first, but I think they suggested he record it, even trying to mimick the echoey Sun sound.) he is somehow more convincing as Elvis. But this is short lived.
"Heartbreak Hotel" on the Dorsey Brother's Show may be the least convincing lip syncing JRM has done so far. I think one of the biggest problems with THIS is that he is lip syncing to the master recordings, there is a BIG difference in Elvis live and Elvis on records. Another montage showing Heartbreak Hotel rise up the charts, this should be a very exciting upbeat sequence, instead it drags on, becoming very repetitive.
The Colonel comes into Elvis's hotel room and tells him he has a screen test with Hal Wallis, he lets out yet ANOTHER "whoooooo!!!" it really annoys me. Then 2 girls pop out of the door of the bedroom asking for Elvis to come back in, JRM raises his eyebrows and shakes his head, he looks like he is in A HIGH SCHOOL PLAY.
The Milton Berle Show: so so so iconic. JRM has flimsy dance moves (not sharp and precise like Elvis's) and his hair completely messed up, falling all over the sides of his face (yes, I realize Elvis's hair got messed up during performances and I love it when a few peices start to fall out but we all know that Elvis was so particular about his hair and there should be some semblance of a pompadour leftover, it just really really annoys me.) Again, the performance is lip synced to the RECORDING of Hound Dog, completely leaving out the controversial slow bump and grind version that made headlines.
Another montage...the muted colors though. The F****ING muted colors! It reads 30s/40s, NOT 50s. I seriously feel like I'm watching a movie about someone else's life.
Graceland: The REAL Graceland exterior, fake interior. Continuity much? There seems to be a big display of Gladys drinking, the last few scenes she's had a beer in her hand. I'm not sure if that was an attempt at being more "accurate" or "real" but in my opinion it just cheapens the movie. Gladys says "their kind" wasn't meant for happiness, that they were meant for misery and pain.
Off to Hollywood. I think JRM resembles Elvis more and is more believable when dressed down, he can't pull of the on stage look. "DAMN. DAMN! DAMN!" play acting, Scotty and Bill have quit. The cinematography I now notice is also contributing to the late '80s TV show vibe I'm getting. Elvis goes back to Sun to remember where it all started. He asks Sam for advice on what to do about Scotty and Bill. "It seems the higher I climb, the lonelier it gets." at least his hair looks better, it could almost pass for a proper pompadour now, I do believe it should be dyed black at this point though. Scotty and Bill come back.
As Elvis slips on the jacket of the famous gold lame suit there is finally a score in the background that sounds like it should be in a biopic about the king of rock and roll. Up until this point it has been sentimental piano music and sleazy '80s soap opera music. As soon as he starts singing "Blue Suede Shoes" the moment is over, his hair is now back to the stringy floppy mess it was at the first recording session at Sun. AND if he's wearing the Gold Lame suit, his hair should DEFINITELY be black. Oh and OF COURSE he's wearing Blue Suede Shoes. FUN FACT: Elvis didn't own a pair of loafer style blue suede shoes like you always see, only a pair of blue suede boots that he wore on the Steve Allen Show (why wasn't that in here? ) "I got a horse and I got a gun, and I'm goin out and have some fun, but I'm a warnin' you galoots, uh don't step on my blue suede boots." And again JRM CAN'T DANCE.
"The Memphis Draft Board has classified you 1A..." Elvis, The Colonel, Gladys and Vernon are discussing the pros and cons of Elvis going into the army and it comes across as a presidential campaign meeting. "I'd be gone two years, I wouldn't be cool..." what? Campaign meeting. They should be sitting in the oval office, not the fake Graceland. "Elvis The Pelvis becomes Private Presley" now there is a montage using REAL FOOTAGE of THE REAL ELVIS, bad idea when your leading man does not resemble the icon he is playing enough to pass for the real thing. "Hair today, gone tomorrow" the only thing that's different is the length of his sideburns.
In the army now. "Mama's in the hospital...I gotta pack and get to Memphis" "Elvis"'s urgency seems forced, and instead of him looking more manly after being "toughened up" by the army JRM looks shrimpy screaming and pointing his finger at the colonel "I'm goin he army's has nothing to do with this!" " Elvis" visits Gladys in the hospital, gives a few sniffles and squeezes his eyes. A shot of THE REAL Graceland in the dark, a phone ring and a flick of a light switch. I'm going to try and be respectful of this part because I know what a great tragedy it was for Elvis to lose his mother...BUT "Mammaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" coming from the facade of the house comes across as campy, like a parody of the event (think Walk Hard.) Also I feel an odd choice of background music "Loving You" for Gladys's funeral. "Elvis" resets his elbows on the casket, looks down at his mother. End scene.
Elvis "Takes" Germany: more footage of THE REAL ELVIS. "We're having a party tonight, some of my army buddies are coming over. Currie Grant, Joe Esposito and Charlie Hodge." we ALL know what's about to happen. A young girl in a sailor dress walks through the door and IMMEDIATELY catches Elvis's attention. Actually less fanfare is made of this than I expected (I suppose there is some added drama with the opera music playing in the background.). "Well, what do we have here?" "This is Priscilla Beaulieu." I can already tell "Priscilla" is taking drama in the "9th grade." PLAY. Probably the shortest Elvis/Priscilla introduction of ever seen on film. "That's the woman I've been looking for my whole life." SHOCKER. "She's awfully young." "...that just means I can raise her to be exactly the woman I want her to be." yes, let's set Elvis up to look like a controlling, manipulating asshole because that's never been done before. (*cough* "Elvis And Me")
The next few scenes seem like frame by frame recreations of both of the aforementioned films that chronicle the early stages Elvis and Priscilla's relationship. Going upstairs to Elvis's bedroom. Meeting the parents. The constant struggle of Priscilla wanting to "do it" and Elvis wanting to wait. The goodbye at the airport.
Two post-army press conferences are combined in one scene New Jersey "I was in tanks for a long time and uh they rock and roll quite a bit." and Vernon's office "It was no big romance." Personally I find the latter more relevant for the story line.
"IT'S NOW OR NEVER!" Another montage and actual footage from The Frank Sinatra "Welcome Home Elvis" show (I guess if this is a reoccurring theme it is acceptable to use the real footage, but some of that should have been used from the '50s as well to make it cohesive.). A SLIDE SHOW (how cheap?) of movie stills (with JRM's face poorly superimposed) and a clapperboard reading the titles of Elvis's films in the early '60s show the passage of time.
Priscilla visits in LA. "Elvis" is wearing the Girls! Girls! Girls! yachting cap he is ALWAYS wearing when Priscilla come to visit LA. Priscilla's dress looks like it was bought at JCPenny in 1996. "Young and Beautiful" plays in the background as Elvis and Priscilla roll around on top of the bed. Again, telling her they have to wait...we get it.
"How did you like the song?" "I prefer the fast songs like Jailhouse Rock" in a baby voice. Elvis scolds Priscilla, she pouts and shakes her head, devistated.
In Vegas, Elvis hands out sunglasses to all the guys, symbolizing the formation of "The Memphis Mafia" Elvis tells Priscilla he "likes makeup". Priscilla is annoyed that the TV is always on. She then discovers Elvis's sleeping pills. Low piano music plays. Fade to black.
Back to Graceland. Elvis wants Priscilla to move to Memphis. Vernon suggests they put her in a Catholic School. "Aww that's a great idea daddy, a CATHOLIC school, aw man I love them uniforms." let's make Elvis look like a perv.
Viva Las Vegas: I AM glad that FOR ONCE the relationship with Ann-Margret is exposed. Rose McGowan captures Ann Margret's "on screen" persona, much like Randy Quaid epitomizes the colonel's image to the public. Back to the muted colors used in the sets and costumes, it does not read "Swingin' '60s". Priscilla becomes suspicious. In the kitchen at "Graceland" (the fake interior after a shot of the real exterior) we see Priscilla slicing a melon...okay "that is a filthy lie!" "Elvis" throws a newspaper, "I can't believe she would say that." "So it's true?" "No, we're not engaged." calmly "Why doesn't she take her ass back to Sweden where she belongs?" throws the melon (Priscilla states in her book Elvis And Me that she threw a vase at the wall.) making a farce out of Priscilla's anger. Priscilla is also extremely under styled, she looks like a humble housewife instead of the King's "live in lolita" where's the bouffant? where's the eyeliner? the over the top clothes? ( I should have known by JRM's hair not to expect much.) "It's over."
Elvis is spending too much money. Taking sleeping pills. Frustrated with the "British Bugs" stealing his hits. Around the pool table, one of the boy's girlfriends asks Elvis when the last time he had a hit was. "Elvis" then proceeds to THROW A POOL CUE AT HER, knocking her down...OKAY, THAT NEVER HAPPENED...thrown in for dramatic effect in a very insignificant scene...there seem to be a lot of those. "We're concerned about you, it's the pills E." coming from Vernon, an interesting approach to use him as "the voice of reason", I always think of Vernon being more quiet and behind the scenes, telling the boys to straighten Elvis out. "I don't need a daddy anymore."
"So LARRY, what are you into?" "I guess I'm into the bigger question...where are we going?" "Keep talkin' man keep talkin'." "Elvis" is forcing tears out of his eyes, whining that nobody knows how empty he feels. Elvis begins reading spiritual books and Larry Gellar becomes a regular in the entourage. During the filming of "Clambake" Elvis is sullen and snarly, frustrated by the lack of fulfilment he receives by whipping out one "formula" movie after another. (Also JRM's hair ONCE AGAIN looks stringy and is falling on the sides of his face, I thought we were done with that...where's the REAL Larry Geller when you need him? ugh.) "Elvis needs to concentrate on his work, I don't want him reading anymore books or involved in things that clutter up his mind." The Colonel lays down the law. "We've gotta TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!" oh no they didn't.
The Wedding: I've given up hope on "Priscilla", I don't even know the actresses name, but she does not make an impact. Also at this point her hair should be JET BLACK, but if Elvis's isn't why should her's be? SERIOUSLY THE HAIR REALLY BOTHERS ME. Two of the most iconic hairstyles in the world, the pompadour and the beehive, GET IT RIGHT! ugh. FINALLY the big moment that has been made so much a fuss over where Elvis and Priscilla are going to "do it", that sentimental sleazy soap opera piano music is back and the "moment" lasts for about 5 seconds total.
Nine months later: "Little Lisa Marie." again nothing much is made of the birth of Elvis's daughter. In Elvis And Me Priscilla tells the story of Elvis driving to the wrong hospital on her way to giving birth, I think that would be a GREAT scene in a movie. WHY IS EVERYTHING SOOOO SERIOUS in this movie? It's ELVIS, it should be FUN. The colonel explains that the movies and the records aren't doing what they used to. "We started big in TV, and we can re-start big in TV." At this point JRM looks too young to be playing Elvis in 1968, by this point especially Elvis could command a room with his presence, our "Elvis" has suffered with that throughout the entire film.
Meeting with Steve Binder: I DO appreciate seeing the "behind the scenes" planning of the comeback special, meaning to showcase Elvis's desires as well as his fears. But when "Steve" starts discussing his vision for the television special I am getting a SERIOUS Ryan Evans (High School Musical) vibe. "Elvis's. Big. Comeback." I'm going to point out ONCE AGAIN that the set, the costumes, the styling and the lighting DOES NOT read 1968. In movies you have to exaggerate everything, nothing is exaggerated here. I know as an Elvis fan I have a picture in my mind of how this meeting went down and this is NOT it, not even close. ANYWAY. "I think let's do it, it's gonna be great Steve."
We are brought back to the "in the round" arena. "He actually is coming, he's backstage." Elvis can't do it, he can't go on. WAIT. DOES JRM ACTUALLY HAVE BLACK HAIR??? AND IS IT ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE STYLE ELVIS WORE IN 1968??? HALLELUJAH IT'S A MIRACLE!!! This is also the only time the set looks basically identical. (I'm sure this is due to having video footage to actually study, but seriously with the rest of it DO YOUR RESEARCH!) The quality of this scene is so much better than the previous ones I almost feel like I'm watching a different movie.This is also the closest I've seen JRM come to emulating Elvis (again, I think a lot of that is due to having footage to study extensively) I honestly think if he'd had black hair earlier on it would have helped a lot (why is it just all of a sudden, no explanation, at THE VERY END of the movie?). But as soon as he opens his mouth to "sing" Lawdy Miss Clawdy (actually the LIVE version from the '68 sit down concert, I'm so impressed!) the magic is over. HE IS A TERRIBLE LIP SYNCHER.
After the first sit down show "Elvis" says it was "great" about 527 times. Elvis and Steve go out in Steve's attempt to show Elvis the world does not recognize him anymore, and "the world" has certainly changed we've gone from muted colors and 1940s clothing to cheap hippie costumes in yellows and oranges. "It's 1968, man. The time's there a changin'." Where have I heard that before??? hmmm. Bedroom scene with Elvis and Priscilla (his hair is brown again...URGHHHHHHHH!), Elvis confesses he's never been able to make love to a woman who's had a child. "What?...cause I'm a mama you can't make love to me?" the beginning of the end.
Back to the Burbank studio for more filming of the TV special, JRM lip syncing the MASTER RECORDING of Big Boss Man (personally, I think this song should have been used for a montage of the '60s movie slump...I should write my own damn movie about Elvis's life for real.) his BROWN hair is a mess, is it brown or is it black? ugh. I can't even stand it anymore. After Elvis's performance The Colonel seems puzzled, he has Elvis meet with him in his office. Elvis thinks it about time they "tore up this contract" they had, that line sounds suspiciously like it's from "Jailhouse Rock". "You ungrateful hillbilly!" "I'm holding a press conference today to say that you're fired!" "I thought you might do something like that so I had some documents made up...if you want to be free of me you're going to have to pay for the privilege." I feel like we're getting off track here. Why is this relevant now? I thought we were at "the big triumphant ending" it doesn't seem necessary to try and squeeze this in.
The Colonel has been thinking about the conversation. He tells Elvis he's got a great deal in Las Vegas after the TV show is over. "Guess what Steve? I'm touring Vegas." touring? you mean playing? whatever. NOW the grand finale, Elvis is standing in front of the red lights spelling out his name in the white double breasted suit with a red scarf around his neck and BROWN hair (SERIOUSLY??? I was so hopeful.). He takes in a deep breath and the opening chords of "If I Can Dream" are heard. JRM is awkwardly swaying and playing with the microphone chord. Then he begins to lip sync. This is WITHOUT A DOUBT the worst lip syching performace JRM has given throughout the entire film. Trying to re-create Elvis's movements, he looks robotic. And the brown hair STILL bothers me. "...oh please let my dream come true, right nowwwwwwww" arms go up, freeze frame. The epilogue reads: Elvis' 1968 Comeback Special received rave reviews from critics and was seen by nearly half of the American television audience. Elvis never realized his dream of touring overseas, and he never left The Colonel. Worn out by touring, high living and drug dependency Elvis died in 1977. He was 42. His records still sell millions. Elvis remains The King.
Sigh. That was hard to get through. I realize I was watching with a very very critical eye, but I honestly think there are obvious flaws in this film that can not be ignored.
First being the main character. Some may disagree, but in my opinion Johnathon Rhys Meyers is one of the worst Elvises I've ever seen. Did he seriously get an Emmy nomination for this? Everything about him seemed forced. It did not flow naturally. Everything was contrived and fake.
The second problem is the styling of THE HAIR (obviously, I could go on FOR DAYS about this), the costumes (muted colors urghhhh) the sets (more muted colors) and the lighting (too natural, Elvis shut out sunlight, he woke up in the afternoon and went to bed at dawn.).
The cinematography, '80s TV show feel once again, watching it didn't feel like ELVIS, it felt like watching a biography of a Hollywood legend, NOT a rock and roll legend, it felt very wooden and very stiff. The score, again NOTHING about it said Elvis.
MOST of the other actors in the film were not very talented. As I've said before Randy Quaid and Rose McGowen were the only two I was impressed with. Priscilla was abysmal. She didn't even have that big of a part, I'm not sure how big of a part they wanted to give her, but she seemed to trickle off.
And my final problem is that it draggged on, you should be so caught up in the story and so compelled by it that you DON'T want it to end, instead you're thinking "when is this going to be over". The chronology of events was hard for me to follow too, and I'm a BIG Elvis fan, I could tell you in detail what happened to him year by year, but this thing was all mixed up with insignificant events thrown in at odd places and made a bigger deal out of than they needed to be.
I DID think this was a good timeline to tell the story of Elvis, they didn't mess around with childhood in Tupelo and didn't waste much time at Humes High either. The first big event you want to see is SUN, then the switch to RCA, the King of Rock and Roll, The Army, The Movies, Priscilla, and then The Comeback. I think the '68 Comeback is the perfect "ending" because it shows a high in Elvis's life, it shows Elvis still being ALIVE. There is more to come.
In closing, I believe my greatest doubts were confirmed. This was NOT the definitive Elvis Presley biopic. I'm disappointed it was done so recently because I'm not sure there is an audience for yet ANOTHER Elvis film. But I do long for the day when a GOOD movie is made about him. One worthy of his life and his legacy.
THANKYOUVERYMUCH
