Elvis

Movie: Elvis

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best MakeUp and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

How I watched: HBO Max

When I fell asleep: I was fighting sleep a lot in the middle

When it had me: Austin's Voice

When it lost me: The Elvis Christmas Special

What systems does it challenge: Entertainment, censorship

Content Warning: Drug addiction, Abuse of power

I wasn't even interested in this film until I saw Austin Butler on SNL. This young actor is an absolute miracle for Baz Luhrman because you can't make this film if you don't find someone who can act and also coincidentally sounds exactly like Elvis. He really is amazing.

The first third of the movie was really riveting. The exciting editing style, presentation and sound that enabled you to feel like you were witnessing Elvis for the first time; experiencing a real sort of evolution and revolution of music and entertainment. I found it all very effective.

By the time we got to the Elvis Christmas Special it felt like all of the exciting story telling was done and it took an hour to get through that damn Christmas special. This is where I found myself starting to nod off. I had to get up and make tea; it was a whole deal. Consequently, I was done with the movie before we even got to Vegas, but the movie was not done wit me.

I was shocked by the fact that I didn't like Tom Hanks in this movie at all. (I thought it was just me until the Razzie nominations came out.) I didn't particularly like the choice of showing the Colonel walking around casinos in a medical gown as a way for him to narrate the story. It didn't feel like it added anything. It was a slow slog to finish out poor Elvis's life.

Guess what? It was too long! 2 hours and 39 minutes! (What do I keep saying?)