Introduction
On May 25th, director Baz Luhrmann and the cast of the Elvis film were present at Cannes to promote the film’s premiere that same day.
Following the screening at Cannes, Elvis was honored with a 12-minute standing ovation, the longest at the festival so far. Austin Butler gave Priscilla Presley, the late legend’s ex-wife, a hug to express his gratitude for her traveling all the way to Southern France to support the film and pay tribute to Elvis Presley.
Olivia DeJonge played Priscilla Presley in the film. She and Austin Butler had great chemistry, successfully portraying the love story that inspired Elvis endlessly.
The Sun UK commented that audiences would be “captivated by the tumultuous story of the life of the greatest star the world ever saw.”
Meanwhile, Austin Butler’s performance was the film’s biggest highlight. Many major newspapers praised the young actor’s performance in this demanding role.
Vanity Fair remarked that this could be a “turning point to stardom” for Butler, while the Daily Telegraph assessed: “With a superb intuition for the melodrama genre and explosive charisma, Butler successfully portrayed the most authentic Elvis.”
Elvis tells the story of the legendary musician Elvis Presley, one of the most influential figures in American popular culture during the mid-20th century. He was known for his captivating and energetic performances, and for his songs that resonated with the turbulent social times.
The film delves into the bond between Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) and his close manager Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks) over 20 years, from the time the young Presley rose to stardom amidst the ever-evolving world of popular culture. At the heart of this journey is one of the most influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (played by Olivia DeJonge).
The film marks the return of director Baz Luhrmann, who previously directed the acclaimed The Great Gatsby. With its premiere at Cannes, Elvis is expected to be the next quality film in the biographical genre, following a very successful year for this genre with outstanding works such as King Richard, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and tick, tick… BOOM!
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