Priscilla – REVIEW
Image: Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi in PRISCILLA. Image: film still
This movie is based on the book, Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, and recounts through her eyes how she met Elvis, their courtship, marriage, and the separation that eventuated after only 6 years of marriage.
The story commences in Germany, September 1959 when Elvis was in the army, shortly after his mother died. It was an instant attraction when Priscilla met Elvis at a party. She was 14 years of age, and he was 24.
Elvis seemed very vulnerable, still grieving the loss of his mother, which perhaps is what allured Priscilla.
Every woman in the world could only dream of meeting Elvis let alone being in a relationship with him. Elvis was the king of rock and roll and a movie star. Priscilla was the envy of all dreamy-eyed women.
Was this the fairytale romance that everybody envisaged? What was Elvis really like away from the limelight behind closed doors? Priscilla entered his world of womanizing, drugs and alcohol, a dark world which ultimately destroyed their marriage.
Upon viewing Priscilla audiences may ponder why another movie was produced concerning Elvis, especially since Baz Luhrmann’s recent version covered every aspect about this iconic singer’s life and career, including his relationship with Priscilla, in such depth.
If moviegoers are expecting another Elvis cinematic retelling with glitz, glam and endless musical sequences of Elvis performing his hit songs they will be bitterly disappointed – perhaps revisiting Baz Luhrmann’s hit film may then be the best option.
Performances are excellent from the cast, notably Aussie actor Jacob Elordi who has an uncanny resemblance to the singer and reproduces Elvis’s persona flawlessly. Actress Cailee Spaeny who portrays Priscilla looks much younger than the 14 years of age she portrays in the earlier scenes. This was simultaneously disconcerting and laughable in the romantic scenes she shared with the much older looking Elvis.
Ultimately this was slow paced and exhaustive viewing and audiences won’t learn anything which they didn’t already know about this famous couple.
