“Elvis” is a movie that plays with memory and time. Scenes are jam-packed with flickers of the future and remnants of the past. While it can be disorienting at first, it makes the heavy foreshadowing of doom in the film even more heartbreaking — even more so because every promising moment of the young Elvis’ career is so full of hope. While it opens with the death of the Colonel, it begins with him telling the story of how he met Elvis.
For the first 15 minutes of the movie, we hunt Elvis along with the con-man Colonel. “The Snowman” is a music producer at this stage, and knows a good thing when he sees it. Elvis’ gyrations — and the vocal effect they have on girls at one of his earliest concerts — definitely count as a good thing, and fill the Colonel’s eyes with dollar signs. But while the Colonel takes notice of Elvis for his sex appeal, sound, and moves, he is bewildered by what animates the young man.
The Colonel is driven by money and keeping his own secrets. Elvis, however, seems in touch with some higher power. When he is singing and moving, he can do anything — even send his audiences to ecstasy. He’s pure magic, and everyone around him wants to take advantage of it. The scene foreshadows Elvis’ addiction to the audience’s attention and girls, but also how powerful he can be when he is “with the spirit.” While the Colonel fears the girls will eat Elvis alive, his hungry eyes let the audience know: He will, too.
“Elvis” is a movie that plays with memory and time. Scenes are jam-packed with flickers of the future and remnants of the past. While it can be disorienting at first, it makes the heavy foreshadowing of doom in the film even more heartbreaking — even more so because every promising moment of the young Elvis’ career is so full of hope. While it opens with the death of the Colonel, it begins with him telling the story of how he met Elvis.
For the first 15 minutes of the movie, we hunt Elvis along with the con-man Colonel. “The Snowman” is a music producer at this stage, and knows a good thing when he sees it. Elvis’ gyrations — and the vocal effect they have on girls at one of his earliest concerts — definitely count as a good thing, and fill the Colonel’s eyes with dollar signs. But while the Colonel takes notice of Elvis for his sex appeal, sound, and moves, he is bewildered by what animates the young man.
The Colonel is driven by money and keeping his own secrets. Elvis, however, seems in touch with some higher power. When he is singing and moving, he can do anything — even send his audiences to ecstasy. He’s pure magic, and everyone around him wants to take advantage of it. The scene foreshadows Elvis’ addiction to the audience’s attention and girls, but also how powerful he can be when he is “with the spirit.” While the Colonel fears the girls will eat Elvis alive, his hungry eyes let the audience know: He will, too.