When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla’s long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame. From the book Elvis and Me.
Cast
Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley
Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley
Ari Cohen as Captain Beaulieu, Priscilla’s stepfather
Dagmara Domińczyk as Ann Beaulieu, Priscilla’s mother
Tim Post as Vernon Presley, Elvis’s father
Lynne Griffin as Grandma “Dodger”, Elvis’s grandmother
Daniel Beirne as Joe Esposito
Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll as Alan “Hog Ears”
Dan Abramovici as Jerry Schilling
R. Austin Ball as Larry Geller
Olivia Barrett as Alberta, the cook
Stephanie Moore as Dee Presley, Elvis’s stepmother
Luke Humphrey as Terry West
Evan Annisette as Mike Stone
Emily Mitchell as Lisa Marie Presley
My review
It’s always hard to follow another BIG performance film. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie gave us that Austin Butler version of Elvis. Now with this look at a different side, Priscilla’s side. I’ve not read the book but have bookmarked it on audible. I’m intrigued. I didn’t know much of their story so I enjoyed getting to know more. It is a slightly slow pace which might come across as boring to some audiences. Jacob Elordi has a great Elvis portrayal but it’s Cailee Spaeny’s Priscilla here that is bringing the real star quality. I felt that the ending was abrupt but poignant. Would have loved to see more of what happened post- Elvis!
Some don’t like how Elvis is portrayed. Their relationship was volatile, he was famous and could get any woman he wanted. She was naive and devoted to the life they were making. This film hasn’t changed my opinion of Elvis, I just think it’s another complicated relationship.
I did find how they started their relationship and the age difference to feel uncomfortable in modern times. It was different back then but it wasn’t like it wasn’t something that people weren’t aware of.