Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Elvis 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Kurt Russell was still better.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 11, 2022

Director Baz Luhrmann, who's been coasting on the strength of Moulin Rouge! for over 20 years and whose last project was 2013's abysmal The Great Gatsby, turns his peculiar gaze on The King of Rock and Roll with Elvis, an uneven biopic of the late, great musical icon (Austin Butler). But wait! It's actually closer to a tell-all by Presley's manager "Colonel" Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), a man accused of mismanaging the star's funds and estate for decades by fleecing him out of untold millions of dollars. This kind of gaudy approach might suit Presley's tumultuous career path during the 1970s but Luhrmann pastes it all over the 159-minute production, one that's also cheaply decorated with flashy scene transitions, odd tonal shifts, and quick cuts that will annoy, confuse, and ultimately alienate most new viewers.

It's not a total loss, of course: Austin Butler's lead performance is quite good for what was undoubtedly an intimidating pair of shoes to fill. Singing ability, stage presence, dramatic moments? All mostly accounted for and, when paired with the inarguably interesting life and career path of Elvis, who reached incredible highs and lows during his all-too-short 42-year life, make for a solid anchor that helps to hold large portions of Elvis together. Trailing a very distant second is Tom Hanks as "Colonel" Tom Parker, a role so fatally miscast -- which is twice as unfortunate, since large portions of the story are told from his perspective -- that it almost derails the entire production when he's seen or heard. (That means his makeup is about as awful as his come-and-go accent.) Combined with the aforementioned over-the-top flash of Luhrmann's direction and the film's editing, there's just too much wrong (or at least off) to ignore.

It's certainly worth a watch either way, if only based on the strength of its source material. The colorful costumes and production design by Luhrmann's long-time wife and frequent collaborator Catherine Martin are first rate, as are most of the musical productions and performances... as well as the visuals, at least when they don't fall over ass-backwards into overcooked territory. Several solid dramatic moments dot the landscape, as do a number of appreciated nods to Presley's many musical influences including Little Richard (played by Alton Mason) and especially Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Yolanda "Yola" Quartey), who's often regarded as "the Godmother of rock and roll". I can admit any production that gives a little shine to these perhaps even bigger musical icons is at least worth a once-over and, if nothing else, those more receptive to Luhrmann's very specific style of filmmaking may find Elvis much easier to digest.

For a slightly warmer take on Elvis and a more detailed synopsis of the story, please refer to Brian Orndorf's theatrical review. Curious newcomers, as well as those who saw and enjoyed it theatrically, should appreciate Warner Bros.' surprisingly solid home video package for the film, especially considering Elvis didn't even debut in the United Status until the last week of June. Available as either this 4K-Blu-ray combo pack or a separate Blu-ray/DVD set, both options come equipped with a great A/V presentation and a small but appreciated collection of bonus features.

Elvis 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Bros.' 2160p, HDR-enhanced (HDR10+/Dolby Vision) transfer looks to be an extremely crisp and faithful representation of Elvis' specific appearance. Cinematographer Mandy Walker reportedly shot the entire film using a combination of ARRI ALEXA 65, LF, and Panaflex System 65 cameras with custom "Elvis" lenses made from special glass that produced an image both slightly less sharp and with more aberration than traditional ones. Meant to evoke the era in which it represents -- more than 1970s than anything else, which is when the bulk of the film takes place -- this formula genuinely produces an image evocative of a classic cinematic appearance. With the addition of artificial film grain, the illusion is even more convincing. Still, this is ultimately a purely digital image through and through, and one with a varied color palette that ranges from dark and muted to almost candy-colored in its overall intensity, especially in some of the specific background elements by costume and production designer Catherine Martin.

As expected, the 4K's transfer advances upon the already-great Blu-ray in meaningful ways; not only is this a true 2160p source, but the HDR enhancement produces a number of highlight-worthy shorts during Elvis' many musical performances, where bright stage lights and colorful costumes dazzle, as well as the mostly inviting and warm-toned scenes set during our main character's younger days (above). On the other end of the brightness spectrum, the film's many dark and dimly-lit scenes are likewise captured with excellent shadow detail and strong black levels, while those aforementioned colors -- vivid and muted alike -- pop out strongly but not unnaturally. In all cases, image detail is very robust, especially in close-ups, and even in mid-range shots it's easy to pick out small details like the sequins in Elvis' jumpsuits and the textures of clothing, furniture, and other items. All things considered, it's as strong as you'd expect out of a recent big-budget studio production, especially one from a director known for visual flair.

For my thoughts on the included Blu-ray's 1080p transfer (which is where this review's 15 screenshots were sourced from), please see my separate review of that title which contains an additional 25 images.

Elvis 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Equipped with a default Dolby Atmos mix on both the 4K and Blu-ray (which, as always, automatically folds down to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core if you aren't yet equipped for Atmos), Elvis routinely takes full advantage of the format with a wide-open and, at times, incredibly immersive sound field that impresses at almost every turn. Dialogue is always clean and crisp, well-mixed with other elements (including background sound effects and, of course, the plethora of music cues), and serves up a strong dynamic range without necessarily making viewers adjust their volume levels more than a few times along the way. Frequent musical performances are unsurprisingly a highlight, from the boisterous but more intimate locales seen in Elvis' youth to the star-making concert during which he first met "Colonel" Tom Parker and, of course, the much more grandiose stage shows that frequently dot Elvis' third act in Las Vegas. It's a frequently over-the-top yet carefully reigned-in sonic experience, one that captures plenty of impressive moments without necessarily feeling overcooked, and regularly reaches into the rear and Atmos-exclusive height channels at opportune moments. My only quibble is that it seems mixed a few decibels lower than reference level, which includes the LFE channel, but listeners most will find this to be a more or less perfect recreation of the theatrical audio experience.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the film and all bonus features.

Elvis 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with appropriately flashy cover artwork, a matching foil-enhanced slipcover, a promotional insert, and a Digital Copy redemption code. Bonus features can all be found on the Blu-ray only, although the "Musical Moments" song selection is also offered on the 4K disc.

• Bigger Than Life: The Story of Elvis (22:22) - Baz Luhrmann, Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, costume designer Catherine Martin, producer Schuyler Weiss, and other key cast/crew members speak about the challenges and joys of adapting Elvis' life for the big screen white avoiding the formula of a traditional biopic.

• Rock 'N Roll Royalty: The Music and Artists Behind Elvis (7:33) - Luhrmann, Butler, executive music producer Elliot Wheeler, producer Patrick McCormick, and more speak about the King of Rock and Roll, his particular style, and the talented musicians that brought his work to life for the movie.

• Fit for a King: The Style of Elvis (8:02) - Costume designer Catherine Martin, Butler, and others take center stage for an overview of the iconic stage outfits and period clothing used in the film.

• Viva Australia: Recreating Iconic Locations for Elvis (7:26) - Baz Luhrmann, Marin, Butler, and others speak about the challenges of bridging three decades' worth of important locations including Elvis' Graceland mansions (and its interior decorations, of course), as well as the Los Angeles international stage.

• "Trouble" Lyric Video (2:15) - When regular old subtitles just aren't good enough.

• Musical Moments (19 clips, 46:19 total) - Think of these as song chapter selections; all of the performed songs and medleys are presented here as individual chapter stops with a handy "Play All" option too.

Elvis 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Director Baz Luhrmann's Elvis is almost exactly half of a great movie; Presley's story has always been a fascinating one, and the lead performance by Austin Butler carries much of the film's weight and momentum. Sadly the show falls short in other areas, including Luhrmann's trademark excessive visual style and the mostly distracting presence of a miscast Tom Hanks as Elvis' infamous manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker. All told it's entertaining enough for a watch and may score stronger with the late legend's most devoted fans, but Elvis wears out its welcome sooner than expected and, at almost 160 minutes in length, makes for quite the exhausting experience. Warner Bros.' 4K/Blu-ray combo pack nonetheless offers solid support, from its outstanding A/V presentation to a short but serviceable collection of extras. Certainly a worthwhile purchase for established fans, but newcomers should proceed with caution.