Importance Score: 32 / 100 🔵
Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ Streaming Soon for Elvis Fans
Fans of Elvis Presley will be thrilled to learn that Sofia Coppola’s 2023 biographical drama, Priscilla, is set to be available for streaming this upcoming weekend. This film, adapted from Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, “Elvis and Me,” explores the unseen side of a great American myth and became a significant success upon release.
An Intimate Portrayal of Elvis and Priscilla’s Relationship
The movie Priscilla offers a unique perspective, diverging from typical Elvis narratives. As described in its IMDb plot summary: “When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu encounters Elvis Presley at a party, the already meteoric rock-and-roll superstar reveals unexpected private facets: a captivating infatuation, a companion in solitude, a vulnerable confidant.”
Through Priscilla’s viewpoint, Sofia Coppola unveils the untold story of Elvis and Priscilla’s extended courtship and tumultuous marriage, spanning from a German army base to the iconic Graceland estate. This creates a deeply personal and exquisitely detailed depiction of love, fantasy, and celebrity.
Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi Lead the Cast
Unlike Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” from the previous year, which starred Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll, Priscilla centers on Elvis’s wife. Cailee Spaeny embodies Priscilla, while Jacob Elordi portrays Elvis Presley in this A24 production. Upon its United States release, Priscilla garnered favorable reviews from critics and achieved a worldwide box office gross of $33 million. Furthermore, Cailee Spaeny received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her compelling performance.
Critical Reception: Mixed Reviews for ‘Priscilla’
Priscilla holds an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.5/10 rating on IMDb, indicating varied audience reactions. Online reviews reflect these mixed sentiments.
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Initial Positive Reactions
One IMDb reviewer noted, “The first hour was fantastic,” praising the lead actors: “They were both very good in their roles and the chemistry (or lack thereof) was very well presented. It took the story of the two of them meeting and made it come to life, the filming was interesting and the general vibe felt spot on.” This initial segment effectively established character development and narrative momentum.
Pacing and Character Arc Criticisms
However, the review continues, expressing disappointment with the film’s latter half. “Then all of a sudden the second half it’s like the character development just stopped, very little connected together or made sense without background knowledge into the story as a whole, and then the last 20 min it was like ‘oh shoot we have 20 min better finish it’ and no one could figure out exactly how.”
The reviewer critiqued the rushed conclusion, stating, “The jump from being in an abusive relationship to being her own woman was instant and it all felt very juvenile and hallmark in the end. Worth watching? Yes for sure. Not great film but really could have been which made it more disappointing.”
Further Viewer Perspectives
Another viewer commented on the film’s intrigue but cinematic shortcomings: “Just rather uninteresting, on film terms at least. It is interesting seeing the film portray a different type of version of Elvis Presley, one that is uncomfortable to watch unfold but one that ought to be told. That’s where anything noteworthy I have to say about this release ends, though. As a movie, it’s rather boring.”
This perspective questions the film’s ability to sustain interest over its runtime: “I’m not convinced there’s enough to be told across a full blown picture, at least not one around 1hr 45mins in length.” However, praise was given to Spaeny: “I will say that Cailee Spaeny puts in a solid display as the titular character, in fairness.”
Conversely, Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis received less favorable remarks: “Jacob Elordi as Elvis, in my opinion, isn’t a positive to be honest. If I didn’t know he was playing Elvis I genuinely wouldn’t have guessed he was playing the singer, aside from a few outfits and the twisty bit of hair in his fringe.” The reviewer also noted issues with the accent, humorously comparing it to Nicolas Cage’s in “Con Air.”
Concluding, the viewer acknowledged the film’s visual competence but overall impact: “It’s competently put together visually at least, though overall I can’t honestly say this made a mark on me personally. I don’t feel like I learnt anything about ‘Priscilla’ herself. I doubt I’ll remember this one long term, sadly.”
Watch ‘Priscilla’ on BBC iPlayer
Priscilla will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer starting from midnight on Sunday, April 20. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch Priscilla and form your own opinion on this biographical drama.