Are critics all shook up about the new Elvis biopic? Well, the new movie is certainly causing a little more conversation than might be expected. Elvis, which is yet to receive its international release, has already been viewed by film critics after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival where it received a 12-minute standing ovation. Lead actor Austin Butler, embodying the famous King of Rock N Roll, has been singled out for his stellar performance as the music star - with murmurs of a possible Oscar nod to come. Likewise, critics have been raving about the eclectic mix of styles and musicians featuring on the movie's soundtrack – with everybody from Doja Cat to Italian rock band Måneskin making an appearance.
Baz Luhrmann's love letter to the iconic singer and actor has certainly made an impression on film critics. So what have these movie connoisseurs been saying about the latest musician biopic to hit movie theatres? Read on to find out.
8 Critics Have Been Impressed By Austin Butler's Performance
Bringing to life one of the greatest singers of the 20th century was always a tall order, but relative newcomer Austin Butler (known previously for his work in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) appears to have hit just the right note. Butler, 30, has been wowing critics with his nuanced performance as the King.
7 Many Were Unaware Butler Had Such Impressive Acting Chops
Discussing Butler's role, Metro said that the actor definitely 'delivers' - 'from the swagger to the voice, he embodies Elvis and swiftly makes you forget you’re watching the kid from The Carrie Diaries.'
6 Elvis Aficionados Have Also Been Thrilled By Austin Butler's Singing Voice
Butler also performs Elvis's famous songs himself in the movie, and critics have been impressed with his ability to pay homage to the music star's distinctive voice without becoming a caricature.
'In Elvis, when Butler sings, it’s Elvis’ voice that streams out,' said a critic from Time magazine, 'in lustrous ribbons of recklessness, of ardor, of hope for the future. That voice is a repository of every joy and misery that life could possibly hold.'
5 They Were Impressed By The Work Austin Butler Put In
Austin Butler is known to have put many months of research and training into his performance, and critics could see that in his work. Even though he doesn't bear a striking resemblance to Elvis, it really felt like he was in the building.
'Even if he looks rather more like the young John Travolta than the young Elvis Presley, Butler gives a genuine virtuoso performance that is far more than an impersonation,' wrote a critic in the Daily Mail.
4 Some Thought The Movie Glossed Over Elvis's Darker Side, However
Director Baz Luhrmann is certainly an Elvis fan - and this shines through in the movie's tone. Some critics were unhappy with the impression of Elvis that the movie gave, however, feeling that it failed to shed light on the performer's more troubling aspects.
'This biographical film doesn’t show us the full scope of Elvis’ life, work and unprecedented influence on American culture. Instead, it opts to tell the fairytale version,' said one reviewer from Little White Lies.
'Elvis here is all smooth-corners,' the reviewer continued. 'There is no room for exploring the contradictions, the thorniness of his relationship with a teenage Priscilla, his infidelities, politics, or drug abuse. Anything that would make Elvis unappealing or problematic by modern standards is taken out of the frame.'
3 Those Who Saw The Elvis Biopic Just Had Fun
The single biggest comment amongst reviewers is just how fun the movie is to watch. Critics - whether they loved it or not - were carried away on this wild ride through Elvis's career.
'It’s a bright and splashy jukebox epic,' wrote a reviewer for The Telegraph, 'it veers in and out of fashion on a scene-by-scene basis: it’s the most impeccably styled and blaringly gaudy thing you’ll see all year, and all the more fun for it.'
Variety called Elvis a "fizzy, delirious, impishly energized, compulsively watchable 2-hour-and-39-minute fever dream — a spangly pinwheel of a movie that converts the Elvis saga we all carry around in our heads into a lavishly staged biopic-as-pop-opera."
2 The Movie Has A Great Score On Rotten Tomatoes
The film already has a healthy 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning that it is certified 'fresh.' So far, 33 critics have weighed in on the movie, and most have given it around 4/5 marks.
In summation, the aggregator website writes: 'The standard rock biopic formula gets all shook up in Elvis, with Baz Luhrmann's dazzling energy and style perfectly complemented by Austin Butler's outstanding lead performance.'
1 The Presley Family Loved It
Nobody knew Elvis himself better than his own family. They – if they might be called critics – were completely blown away by the movie.
Lisa Marie, Presley's daughter, said on her Instagram: 'I have seen Baz Luhrmann's movie 'Elvis' twice now, and let me tell you that it is nothing short of spectacular.'
She called the film "absolutely exquisite," and singled out Austin Butler, saying he "channeled and embodied my father's heart and soul beautifully."
"In my humble opinion, his performance is unprecedented and FINALLY done accurately and respectfully," adding that she "will eat my own foot" if Butler doesn't get an Oscar for his performance.