A thoroughly cinematic drama, Elvis’s (Austin Butler) story is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). As told by Parker, the film delves into the complex dynamic between the two spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).
For in-depth thoughts on Elvis, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Elvis offers a fine uptick in quality over the already dazzling accompanying Blu-Ray, making it a strong standout on the format. Skin tones appear a touch more natural with crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores or pooling sweat droplets. The increased range of the color spectrum is stunning to behold. The Dolby Vision and HDR enriches the colors from already vibrant to off the charts in all aspects. One of the most fun aspects of this movie is all of the eye-popping costumes which are presented with a pleasing nuance. The stage lighting also really makes an impact with every different venue.
The black levels are especially strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with tremendous detail. The highlights in the film are well defined with whites more stable and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Elements taking place in any shadowy environments are more vivid and finely delineated. This 4K UHD presentation shows off on all fronts including strong gains in color and clarity. The Blu-Ray is great, but Warner Bros. has delivered another miraculous transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with a magnificent Dolby Atmos presentation that absolutely stuns from beginning to end. This is a movie about Elvis, so you know the music has to be flawless – no one has to be afraid on that point. From the opening moments, this track is set to deliver an expansive experience suitable for such a varied sonic palette. Music is the lifeblood of this film, and it permeates the room with an urgency befitting the narrative. Sounds are appropriately rendered with flawless directionality from the more rollicking numbers to the exchanges of dialogue. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being trampled by any of the competing sonic elements. Ambient details saturate the speakers to quite satisfying ends in the rear and overhead channels. The overhead channels complement the supporting channels rather than carry the main load, which adds a nice sense of space to the mix. The low end is engaged enthusiastically thanks to the audacious choices from Luhrmann. The mix will be a treat to all with a good home theater system.
Special Features
- Bigger Than Life – The Story Of Elvis: A pretty strong featurette totaling nearly 23 minutes that covers the development of the larger ideas and themes of the film, the casting of Austin Butler and what made him so perfect for the role, really exploring the life of Elvis and figuring out how to interpret that on screen, the hair and makeup team, the important figures in the life of Elvis and the people who bring them to life, and much more.
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Royalty – The Music and Artists Behind Elvis: A nearly eight-minute look at the interpretation of the music of Elvis, finding new layers of energy, how music coalesces with the storytelling, the different genres at play, the incredibly talented musicians who bring it to life, how Elvis’ voice is used in the film and more.
- Fit For A King – The Style Of Elvis: An eight-minute exploration of the aesthetic of the film including the various costumes, the different time periods and how they relate to the culture, the color palette dictated by Baz, and more that is broken down in great detail.
- Viva Australia – Recreating Iconic Locations For Elvis: A nearly eight-minute look at the way in which this creative team recreated the classic American locales in Australia. Once again, the care that was put into each location is supremely impressive from Graceland to the Las Vegas casinos which transport you to this time period.
- “Trouble” Lyrics Video: The two-minute lyrics video is provided here.
- Musical Numbers: An option is given to jump directly to the musical numbers in the film.
Final Thoughts
Elvis is a film that offers some mind-blowing spectacle thanks to the Baz Luhrmann approach to filmmaking being melded with some of the best songs ever performed. Yet, one almost wishes they went even further with the outrageous Luhrmann flourishes, as the film ultimately falls into many of the standard biopic tropes, especially as it heads into the final act of the film. Even with an overly familiar story, Austin Butler delivers a career-making performance that should keep his star burning bright for at least the foreseeable future. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a sparkling A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. If you are a fan of this interpretation of the Elvis story, this release will delight you without fail. Recommended
Elvis will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD on September 13, 2022. The film is currently available to own on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.