EPiC

Elvis Presley In Concert

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★☆ (3.2/5)

Rated: PG

Directed and Produced by: Baz Luhrmann

Edited by: Jonathan Redmond

Produced by: Schuyler Weiss, Jeremy Castro, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton

Featuring: Elvis Presley.

‘Elvis ate America before America ate him.’ (Bono, 1995)

While researching for his previous release, Elvis (2022) staring, Austin Butler, director and producer Baz Luhrmann states, ‘[…] one of the great finds has been unheard recordings of Elvis talking about his life and his music: from the 1970 Vegas show, on tour in 1972 and even precious moments of the 1957 “gold jacket” performance in Hawaii. I knew that we could not pass up this opportunity. It was these discoveries that gave the inspiration for the new film.’

The discovery of 59 hours of film led to the creation of EPiC, a creation that included the restoration and syncing of audio including anamorphic 35mm, as well as 8mm film from the 1950s.

This film is narrated with Elvis’ own words: he’s loose, cool and more than anything, entertaining.

‘I’m just an entertainer,’ Elvis says, singing country, gospel and rhythm and blues.

Elvis can joke about the ants in his pants, he can overcome, he can understand that not everyone’s going to love him.  It doesn’t change him.

What he understands is that when he’s on stage, that wriggling, tapping, gittering that happens while singing is getting something out.  The reaction of the crowd; the crazy, the outpouring is a release in a safe environment.

It’s a release and the crowd love him for it.

Elvis is arrested by those who don’t understand, he’s drafted and sent to war.  He returns to star in Hollywood movies.

And it did not change.

It did not change.

It did not change.

He had to change.  Get back on stage.  To see the people.

With the Colonel lurking in front, keeping an eye on things.

Most of the film is the rehearsals and seeing Elvis singing in Vegas during his residency in 1970.

What amazes is the effortlessness of his voice so he can put his energy into the antics on stage.

Always a sex symbol, I didn’t realise Elvis was a personality.

I remember those Hollywood movies, watching daytime TV at my grandfather’s house.  That’s how I remember Elvis.

So to see the cheek, the humour, the, ‘hang loose,’ aside to someone yelling in the crowd, the donning of a bra on his head as he continues to sing; letting the acclaim, the crazy roll off him was what kept me smiling throughout the film.

There’s some clever editing and type marking the progression of Elvis through the years before Vegas.  But it’s a story told by him, with Elvis speaking about what it meant to him, the feeling of being at home on stage.  The want to be there.  The want to perform overseas but never singing outside of North America; to only leave the country in Service.

It’s a film to see the man from another perspective, to see how he was with the band, one of the fellas.  Down to Earth and always the King.

I’ve never been a big fan but I was still entertained by this film, even with the tinge of sadness knowing he died young, before his time.  There’s a haunting feeling that has Elvis playing at being a ghost and singing if he’s going to be missed – ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’

He lite the world on fire before he left.

And it’s hard to watch without falling a little in love with him.

I know this review is more synopsis than analysis, but that’s what the film is like, no real storyline, not even a documentary.  Just snippets of Elvis, the man, like a backstage pass to see the one-of-the-boys entertainer that could charm the pants off anyone he met.

Songs Include:

1. Also Sprach Zarathustra

2. An American Trilogy

3. Don’t Be Cruel

4. Crawfish

5. Jailhouse Rock

6. Hound Dog

7. Heartbreak Hotel

8. Girls! Girls! Girls!

9. Bossa Nova Baby

10. Edge Of Reality

11. Change Of Habit

12. Are You Lonesome Tonight?

13. I Got A Feelin ’In My Body

14. Stranger In The Crowd

15. (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such As I

16. What’d I Say

17. I Was The One

18. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me

19. Ghost Riders In The Sky

20. Runaway

21. Little Egypt

22. That’s All Right

23. Tiger Man

24. Polk Salad Annie

25. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling

26. I Shall Be Released

27. Burning Love

28. Stranger In My Own Home Town

29. (You’re The) Devil In Disguise

30. Never Been To Spain

31. Love Me

32. Blue Moon

33. Twenty Days and Twenty Nights

34. I Can’t Stop Loving You

35. Always On My Mind

36. Oh Happy Day

37. How Great Thou Art

38. I, John

39. Nearer My God To Thee

40. Big Hunk O ’Love

41. Bridge Over Troubled Water

42. In The Ghetto

43. Walk a Mile in My Shoes

44. Suspicious Minds

45. Can’t Help Falling In Love