Briona Bargerstock, Contributing Writer

bnb5387@psu.edu

“Elvis” was one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. The first starring role of emerging actor Austin Bulter, who is not new to the acting scene, shows the performers as he portrays the late pop culture idol Elvis Presley. Bulter is joined by a cast consisting of Tom Hanks as Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker and Olivia DeJonge as Elvis’ wife Priscilla Presley.
I found the movie to be very engaging throughout with many nods to famous Elvis outfits and mannerisms. It is a sad tale of a boy who wanted to buy his mom a pink Cadillac but was pushed too hard, transforming him into a drug-dependent superstar. The film tried hard to show Elvis’ appreciation for black artists and Beale Street, but the fact that he essentially stole from many black artists was merely glossed over.
Overall, I feel that this was a very well-directed film with director Baz Luhrmann who worked tirelessly to ensure that everything in the film felt as authentic as possible.