Elvis

Well, I didn't like Elvis before sitting through 3 hours of this and I don't like him after the fact. At least I've seen every John Carpenter movie now.

70.

(Viewed on 18/07/11): Russell offers the finest screen portrayal of Elvis in a T.V movie that aired shortly after the king's death. It was his first collaboration with Carpenter, and it was a fruitful partnership that created many great films. Unfortunately Elvis isn't one of them. It lacks J.C's usual cinematic flair and it's too reverential, depicting his leeches and hangers on like the Memphis Mafia in an overly benign fashion. It's worth it for Elvis and/or Russell fans, but that's about it.

Yes, it's a long -- I've seen a 168-minute cut --, restrained, sonically well-designed but also giant and careful biopic, one that might look great to fans and non fans (like me). Elvis is all over -- the angry one, the little boy that loved his mama and talked to his twin brother in his loneliness, the lover, the hitmaker, the simple man that can't deal with fame, the artist obsessed with his music and crowd. Also, and above all, this is about Elvis staring at his own (and his bro's) shadow.

Well it's way too long, and has little of note or worthy of mention in terms of cinematic flair. That said Kurt Russell is surpisingly solid as Elvis, and it's certainly very watchable.

Passes the time.