Buzz Luhrmann: Why Priscilla Presley’s Support of Elvis Is “The Best Criticism I’ve Ever Had”

At least Baz Luhrmann knows how to put on a show.

The Australian director starred in the world premiere ElvisAn in-depth discussion of the life and music of a rock and roll legend, similar to an overly demanding beach club on Wednesday nights, complete with a spectacular drone show and a fantastic performance. From Italian glamor rock band and Eurovision 2021 winner Maneskin, who performed a single Elvis Soundtrack.

Thursday press conference on the film starring Luhrmann with Austin Butler, played by Elvis, Tom Hanks, played by his shadow manager Colonel Tom Parker, Olivia Dejong, played by Priscilla Presley, and Alton Meal, played by Alton Mead. However, it is a spectacle rather than an emotional tribute to the legacy of the King of Rock and Roll.

Luhrmann almost sighed as he described his feelings when Priscilla Presley first saw the film and gave a review. “No criticism, no criticism would be more important to us than the woman he married,” Luhrmann explained. “She was like, ‘If my husband were here today, he’d say, ‘What the hell, you’re me’… was the best criticism I’ve ever had.”

Priscilla Presley spoke publicly in support of the film, praising Butler’s “outstanding” performance in particular.

Butler said Thursday that he “went on hiatus for the rest of his life for two years” to prepare for the role and “went into Rabbit Obsession” trying to find out everything he could about the king.

“I screwed up how his voice has changed over the years, how his movement has changed over the years, and I’ve tried to find his humanity,” Butler said. “Because we see Elvis as this icon or the wallpaper of society, and the attempt to get rid of everything and find his nature went deeper. [was] It really is the joy of my life.”

Hanks noted that despite his terrible reputation, he found humanity even in the famous Colonel Parker, who was embarrassed that Elvis had betrayed his musical royalties.

“I heard from a lot of people that he was a nice guy, he lit up every room,” Hanks said. “Was he a cheap crook who played fast and loose with money?” Yea, [but] He brought joy to everything he did. “At least with theft.”

Hanks said the story should give Parker his part in helping to create the phenomenon that was Elvis Presley. “Buzz said there was no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker and there was no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker, it was a completely symbiotic relationship,” he explained. “You have to give him credit and see the reality that Colonel Parker has deceived an extraordinary number of people.”

Luhrmann’s biopic The Magnificent Rockabilly tells the story of Elvis from his childhood in poverty, after his first live performances, to becoming a global superstar before his decline, his late-career rebirth in Las Vegas, and his premature death. how did i do Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet s hidden gatsbyLuhrmann completes Elvis’ soundtrack with contemporary music, including tracks by Eminem, Sve Lee and Diplo, Tame Impala and Jack White.

“I want the audience, who don’t care about Elvis, to feel what it was like to be there. [when he first performed]”- Lurman explained. “He was an original punk rocker.”

“His work is super strong and spiritual, very uplifting,” said Alton Mason, who plays, in Luhrmann’s style, a little Richard in the film. “When I met the Base, I fell into this vortex.”

Luhrmann briefly addressed the issue of cultural appropriation, accusing Elvis, a white singer, of unfairly appropriating the music of black artists like Little Richard and BB King. The director argued that Elvis’ love of gospel and blues was a genuine reaction to the music he understood when he was the only white family in Memphis’ black neighborhood.

“The music that came out of Elvis was the music he absorbed in his friendships with new black musicians like BB King,” said Luhrmann. Elvis went ahead and said, “I didn’t invent rock ‘n’ roll, I’m just spinning it.” He said don’t call me king, I’m not a king.