Austin Butler’s portrayal of the king of rock and roll takes critics by storm – The UBJ – United Business Journal

Austin Butler’s first Elvis reviews are out now. Butler, who plays the king of rock and roll in Baz Luhrmann’s film, received widespread critical acclaim. The film, directed by Baz Luhrmann, focuses on the singer’s inspirational journey, his connection to black culture, his love interest and his relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

The film recently screened at the Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation for 12 minutes, according to reports. IGN said in its review, “Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis tells the story of the King of Rock & Roll at lightning speed, as jittery and full of energy as young Presley himself was when he was riding onstage in the 1950s and whirled the crowd into a frenzy. There are times when it’s absolutely the best approach.” and has been called a high-energy biopic. In its glowing review of the film, The Mirror praised Austin Butler’s major performance, writing, “Butler nails the moves, the mannerisms, the soulful voice and somehow even channels the icon’s charisma. When the girls yell at him in the film’s electrifying musical sequences, you wonder how many actors were needed.Amazingly, the film is as much about his corrupt manager, Colonel Tom Parker, as it is about the rock and roll pioneer.

In the film, we can see Presley’s early struggles, the deep influence of black music, blues and gospel; his days on the hayseed country circuit before signing with Parker, the huge success of Elvismania, the shrewd decision to quell the fears of the moral majority by serving two years in the military in Germany, the marriage to Priscilla, the bubblegum movies, the 1968 TV Comeback Special, and the long goodbye Vegas.

Luhrmann divides the screen into eight equal sections at the beginning of the film, to represent the rock star in many circumstances. This sets the tone for the rest of the film. Because so much seems to happen in every frame of the overlong film, the mind is often rushed to unpack the confusion, and the speed and pacing of the plot feels like a split screen. The exuberant soundtrack, on the other hand, lifts the film somewhat, making you sway to its strong, relentless pulse. And there’s Austin Butler, who does a wonderful Elvis impression. Butler’s acting is fantastic, and that helps keep the movie together when it’s about to fall apart.

Elvis” currently has an 82% approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. On June 24, the film will hit theaters.