This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It’s International Elvis Week in Las Vegas, where the strip is flooded by a sea of King wannabes decked out in jumpsuits and sideburns. But five of the impersonators swaggering into the Riviera Hotel are toting heavy weaponry in their guitar cases. It’s the heist of a lifetime, orchestrated by ex-con Michael (Kurt Russell) and his cunning former cellmate, Murphy (Kevin Costner). The crooked Elvises steal away with $3.2 million, leaving the hotel in ruins and a high body count in their wake.

For thoughts on 3000 Miles To Graceland, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/tgmHjkh1298?si=JnjoAiQPErFurS8T&t=1700]

Video Quality

3000 Miles To Graceland debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio from an older master that looks pretty solid for what the aesthetic ambitions are for the film. Given the strong creative choice of high contrast and intensely hot highlights, this is a title crying out for a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release. Nevertheless, we are glad to have it on Blu-Ray to get a bit more visual nuance squeezed out of the frame. This high definition upgrade is very welcome and serves this movie very well.

The film grain is intact and consistent while showcasing subtle details in the flashy costumes and desert environment. These tactile elements stand out with notable clarity, especially in interiors such as the motel room and elements of the landscapes. Facial features are likewise detailed with stubble standing out alongside natural skin tones. Colors are warm and vibrant as they harness the full depth of all the hues of the environment. The dusty palette is very particular in its presentation, but the aesthetic is captured favorably. Black levels are pretty deep without any noticeable blocking or compression artifacts. This Blu-Ray presentation is not perfect, but in terms of Sony MOD discs it serves us very well.

Audio Quality

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings us this Blu-Ray with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that is a bit blunt and not particularly robust. Dialogue comes through clearly while rarely being drowned out by the score or sound effects. The soundtrack provides some fun tunes which tend to swallow up other elements when they are flowing from the speaker. We wish there was a bit more stretch into the surround channel for a more deeply immersive experience. The environmental effects such as explosions and gunfire are somewhat formidable, but they don’t quite dig as deep as you would like. The track just sounds a bit muddled when it should be crisply defined and given a dynamic placement throughout the speakers. Sony has done fine but not great with this one. There are optional English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

3000 Miles To Graceland is a bit too tonally inconsistent to be considered a great film, never leaning into the fun of the premise or ratcheting up the thrills to gripping levels. Considering you have two legends like Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell leading your film, you would think they would be utilized in a more effective manner than they are. There are moments of great fun and twisty double crosses, but the movie tends to put a focus on the least interesting part of itself. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a mighty fine A/V presentation and nearly nothing in the way of special features. If you like heist films or the ensemble assembled, you will probably enjoy this as mindless entertainment, but you will be frustrated that it is not as good as it could be.

3000 Miles To Graceland can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.