Available at Amazon.com
Studio: Starz Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Episodes: 2
Running Time: 173 Minutes
MSRP: $26.98
Director:
James Steven Sadwith
Cast:
Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Elvis Presley
Randy Quaid. ‘Colonel’ Tom Parker
Antonia Bernath. Priscilla Presley
Tim Guinee. Sam Phillips
Robert Patrick. Vernon Presley
Camryn Manheim. Gladys Presley
Rose McGowan. Ann-Margret
Jack Noseworthy. Steve Binder
The show:
The best thing that can be said about this made-for-TV miniseries is that if feels like a real film. It’s got a couple A-list actors at the top of their game, great cinematography and is all around well put together. The problem is that Elvis suffers from many of the crutches of most other biopics.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a near spot on Elvis Presley from his early humble beginnings to his 1968 Comeback Special. The life of Elvis is almost that of a fairy tale or fable and is played as such here. The poor boy with aspirations bigger than he can put into words who gets his big break. Then, in comes the evil devil-like character of Colonel Tom Parker who temps young Elvis with fame and fortune. Elvis gets everything he could possibly want, yet still is unhappy and everything around him is slowly destroyed. And finally he is offered a chance of redemption. If we didn’t know it was true I’m not sure many people would believe it.
The other superb performance in this film comes, surprisingly, from Randy Quaid, whose Colonel Parker is completely believable in all his slimy glory. Parker was single-handedly responsible for creating and destroying Presley’s career, and this film goes out of its way to paint him as devil that you love to hate.
Credit must be given to the filmmakers for realizing that the life of Elvis could not be wrapped up in a two-hour movie and instead gave it more time in the form of this three-hour miniseries. Sadly, this extra time does not help make the film feel like anything more than a Cliff Notes version of his life, highlighting only the most important moments and leaving very little time for character development. It must be said though that while it does have a Cliff Notes feel, the scenes that were chosen are very well done and very entertaining.
The other thing that makes Elvis so good is the use of Elvis’ actual recordings. This is the first and only film about “The King” to do this and have the approval of his estate. With this in mind one can’t help but wonder if the filmmakers were forced to leave out certain things about Elvis’ life that his family might not want in there. The film does show the darker side of “The King,” but one can’t help but thing that there’s more.
All-in-all this is a solid biopic that any Elvis fan will enjoy. It might also introduce him and his music to a whole new generation, which is nice. It’s odd to think that an Irish actor would be chosen to play the King of Rock and Roll, but as you watch Meyers bust those classic moves it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it.
A nervous Elvis plays his very first live show.
The DVD:
VIDEO: How does it look?
(Presented with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio)
For a made from TV film it doesn’t feel like it. This film looks great and you couldn’t ask for a better transfer.
AUDIO: How does it sound?
(Dolby Surround 5.1)
This movie has fantastic sound. But would expect any less from a movie about a musician? Especially Elvis.
Extras:
Deleted Scenes: These are pretty unimpressive. As the sole extra on this disc it will leave the viewer wanting.
However, it must be noted that this DVD does come in an oh so sweet black velvet slipcover that is very nice.
The Inside Pulse
This is a great time for Elvis fans. Many of his films are finding their way to DVD in special edition forms, and several great boxed sets are coming out. And to top it all off we now get the “definitive” telling of his life story in the very well crafted film. Sadly, the lack of worthwhile extras lowers the over all score of the DVD, but that doesn’t make this miniseries any less entertaining.
