Latest / Fresh Intelligence / EXCLUSIVE: Why Baz Luhrmann's Epic New Elvis Film is Being Blasted for 'Being Blind to The King's Many Sins'
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- 0:19[SPEAKER_00]: Presley and Concert critiqued for overshadowing Elvis's complex, the Badz Lerman's new project, Epix, Elvis Presley and Concert, is facing backlash for allegedly glossing over the more controversial aspects of Elvis Presley's life and career.
- 0:33[SPEAKER_00]: The film arrives four years after Lerman's Oscar-nominated biopic, Elvis, featuring Austin Butler as Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker.
- 0:41[SPEAKER_00]: Epic re-works our Kival footage from Presley's Las Vegas shows alongside previously unseen material, merging concert performances with interview excerpts.
- 0:49[SPEAKER_00]: Critics claim the production continues Lerman's trend of celebrating Presley's showmanship while neglecting a thorough exploration of his legacy.
- 0:56[SPEAKER_00]: The film's framing of Presley's relationships with politics, race, and personal conduct has raised concerns.
- 1:03[SPEAKER_00]: A cultural critic remarked, again and again the narrative suggests Elvis was hemmed in by the people managing his career.
- 1:09[SPEAKER_00]: The impression left is that he had little control over his own voice.
- 1:13[SPEAKER_00]: This sentiment highlights the film's portrayal of Presley's reticence during significant social upheavals as a product of external constraints.
- 1:20[SPEAKER_00]: The film emphasizes Presley's declarations of being just an entertainer, particularly during the Vietnam War era, potentially diverting viewers from questioning his silence on pressing issues.
- 1:30[SPEAKER_00]: One expert noted, the film leans heavily into the idea that he was constrained by circumstance.
- 1:36[SPEAKER_00]: Historians challenged this by asserting that Presley's silence during the civil rights movement was a significant choice with consequences.
- 1:42[SPEAKER_00]: Critics also argue that while the film acknowledges Presley's musical influences from black artists, it fails to examine the racial dynamics that allowed him to achieve fame while many of those artists face discrimination.
- 1:53[SPEAKER_00]: The film's treatment of Presley's personal life, particularly his relationship with
- 2:00[SPEAKER_00]: One researcher pointed out, Priscilla is barely visible.
- 2:04[SPEAKER_00]: Audiences expect her relationship with Elvis to play a meaningful role.
- 2:08[SPEAKER_00]: This omission stands in stark contrast to recent portrayals like Sophia Coppola's 23-film Priscilla, which examine the power dynamics in their relationship.
- 2:17[SPEAKER_00]: Despite the critiques, the film's performance sequences have captivated audiences, who have reportedly danced in the aisles during songs like Burning Love.
- 2:25[SPEAKER_00]: Lurman describes Epic as a hybrid of concert film and documentary, primarily told through Presley's own words, utilizing interview excerpts to narrate his story.