Priscilla’s all shook up by brilliant star
PRISCILLA Presley felt like she was watching the living re-creation of her late husband Elvis in the new Hollywood biopic.
The 76-year-old had refused to support director Baz Luhrmann’s take on Elvis’s rise from humble Mississippi beginnings to become the King of Rock’n’roll.
But after having a private screening, spellbound Priscilla agreed to attend the Cannes Film Festival for its world premiere. She was initially sceptical about Luhrmann’s version of Elvis, but was blown away by newcomer Austin Butler’s “unbelievable” performance – not only his voice, but his moves too.
Halfway through the flick, alongside Elvis’ close pal Jerry Schilling, one of the King’s last surviving associates, Priscilla knew she had to be in France.
Unbelievable
Priscilla said:“jerry and I sat there watching this kid, I think it’s his first film role. He must have spent the last year, every single day and every minute, watching Elvis, because he had him down like you cannot believe. I swear to you.
“I said, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this,’ I said to Jerry, ‘Are you thinking what I am thinking?’ So about three-fourths of the way into the film, I looked over at Jerry and said, ‘It looks like we’re going to Cannes’. He did an amazing job. Listen, for Jerry and I to say that he has to be good.
“His smirk, laugh, voice, movements – he has him down. I know there are a lot of impersonators. I do not know them, I’ve seen them and they are good. But Austin is unbelievable.”
Presley said Luhrmann delves into Elvis’s issues later in his life, adding: “The ending of the movie does show Elvis’ last moment. That was hard to watch. That was Baz’s choice. Baz is a phenomenal storyteller and film-maker and has this visual creative eye. It is an amazing film.
“There will probably be some people who don’t like it, because he has a different take. I look at it as art. It does show the ups and downs that Elvis had with Tom Parker. He wanted to fire Colonel Parker that is all true, and getting Colonel Parker back and his reasons why. That is all true.“