A One Mann’s Movies review of “Priscilla” (2023).
I saw Sofia Coppola’s new biopic, “Priscilla”, a few weeks ago in preview. It’s a well-made film, with a stunning central performance by the 25-year-old Cailee Spaeny. But it’s hardly a film that fills you with festive cheer.
It’s released to UK cinemas on January 1st 2024.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
A 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) is in school at a US Air Force Base in Germany where her father is an officer. She is invited to a party at the nearby home of Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi) and the rest is history.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Abusive behaviour, drug misuse”).
Talent:
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen, Dagmara Dominczyk, Tim Post.
Directed by: Sofia Coppola.
Written by: Sandra Harmon & Sofia Coppola. (Based on the book “Elvis and Me” by Priscilla Presley),
Twitter Handle: #PriscillaMovie.
Running Time: 1h 53m.
The young fan-girl’s dream. A real fairytale? (Source: A24).
“Priscilla” Review:
Positives:
- This is Cailee Spaeny’s movie. The young actress manages to brilliantly portray the under-age schoolgirl in love with the megastar (dreamily scribbling “Elvis” in her schoolbook) but then extends that to portray her turbulent and emotionally confusing marriage to Elvis. There is a lot of Oscar buzz about the performance, and justly so.
- Also impressively demonstrating his range is Jacob Elordi. It is almost impossible to equate the Australian actor’s role here as “The King” with that of the posh upper-class socialite Felix Catton from last month’s “Saltburn“. The guy is chameleon-like.
- The late 50’s/60’s feel of the movie is helped along by a fine choice of music, some excellent costuming, hair and make-up and splendid production design (it is easy to think that they actually did get permission to film in “Graceland”, even though they didn’t).
- Sofia Coppola writes and directs a really stylish film. The script doesn’t shy away from the rather icky nature of the 14-year old being groomed by Elvis’s friends, despite the fears and concern of her parents (Ari Cohen and Dagmara Dominczyk). And later, the story really gets quite bizarre with Elvis seemingly treating Priscilla as some sort of toy doll to be kept, pristine, in the box and not played with (despite her constant demands to have her sexual needs met). All this while Elvis is carrying on affairs with his leading ladies during his film career. How damaging must this have been to her mental health? As the film is based on Priscilla’s book “Elvis and Me”, you would have to think that it is a pretty accurate account of events. However, before her death earlier this year, their daughter – Lisa Marie Presley – slammed Coppola’s script…
My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative. As his daughter, I don’t read this and see any of my father in this character. I don’t read this and see my mother’s perspective of my father. I read this and see your shockingly vengeful and contemptuous perspective and I don’t understand why?
Source: eNews.
Negatives:
- I personally became a little confused with the timeline of the film. There were moments where we jumped ahead a few years, but in other scenes that I thought were a few months apart something happened that made it clear we were talking days, not months. It felt a bit disorientating.
- As above, I generally loved the choice of music for the film (primarily not Elvis tracks, but other hits of the 60’s). But the final track (Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”) was, I thought, a poor choice given its iconic use at the end of “The Bodyguard”.
A jump ahead in time. Vegas Elvis has a photo-shoot with his toy-doll. (Source: A24)
Summary Thoughts on “Priscilla”
I found this to be an fascinating companion piece to last year’s “Elvis“. Interestingly, that film focused on the control and manipulation that Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) had over Elvis (Austin Butler). In this film you can almost feel the frustration that Elvis had with his career being passed down the line as control and abuse of young Priscilla. But be warned that, if Elvis is your idol, you may leave the cinema with a more negative opinion of Elvis than when you went in.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Priscilla”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBWk6BohVXk .
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[…] she is much better in the actual film. But the standout for me was Cailee Spaeny who, after Priscilla, is having a very strong year. Spaeny has the gift of looking about 17 years old and so fits this […]