Recently, A24 Films was kind enough to send me several screeners including Priscilla, which I immediately watched since I hadn’t been able to attend the in-person screening. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully a spoiler-free review of the highly anticipated film Priscilla, which is now available to stream.
Priscilla: In Theaters and available to Stream:
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| Courtesy: A24 Films |
I received a complimentary screener of this film as a member of The Music City Film Critics Association. All opinions are my own. I received A24 press materials included in today's post. Thank you.
About Priscilla: Adapted from the book Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley with Sandra Harmon A24, Stage 6 Films /Directed by: Sophia Coppola /Run Time:1 hrs.50 mins./Genre: Romance/Musical /Rated: R Cast: Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis
Priscilla Synopsis from A24:
“When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend.
Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla's long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame.”
My Thoughts:
This was one of my must-see film picks for several reasons. The first and most obvious reason is I am a fan of Elvis’ music. Growing up, I came to expect my Mom to treat an Elvis movie or TV special as her “must see” time. I have fond memories of watching my Mom interact with those special viewing times.
Truly, Elvis was a household name and icon for so many of my parents generation, that I daresay, it must have been quite an undertaking for Priscilla to be candid and assist the writers with last years hit film Elvis (I loved it and you can read my review here on the blog) and now a year later, we have Priscilla,which shines a bright light into some very dark corners of the iconic Elvis and Priscilla story, minus the music that tends to captivate and hold us.
As much as I wanted to love this film and get swept away in their fairytale love story, that simply did not happen. Sure, there is love, and adoration, yearning, and secrets and laughter, all the things that one would expect of a fairytale love. The sets and wardrobes are beautiful and really do set the tone perfectly for the film as do the actors in their respective roles.
I thought Cailee Spaeny brought an innocence to her portrayal of Priscilla that was needed to fully understand she (Priscilla) was just a young teenage schoolgirl when Elvis came
Into her life and upended it. Cailee portrayed the first crush's feelings brilliantly. As she aged on screen, she was believable in this role.
I enjoyed watching Jacob Elordi's portrayal of Elvis and felt he conveyed the feelings of homesickness and loneliness as the catalyst of his desire to have a relationship with the young Priscilla while he was stationed in Germany.
The start of their relationship is so important in the telling of Elvis and Priscilla because no matter how innocently it started, there’s also the very real and troubling truth about Elvis being so much older than Priscilla. He basically isolated her, introduced her to drugs and partying, swept her away to Graceland, and slowly turned her into his ideal of a perfect partner and eventually his bride.
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| Courtesy: A24 Films |
The Takeaway:
I know there are two sides to every story and somewhere in the middle lies the truth for both parties involved. This is Priscilla Presley’s truth and it may change your views on Elvis. I will admit to negative feelings about Elvis and ultimately Priscilla after viewing this film. I pitied both Priscilla for being trapped in a loveless marriage and Elvis for being trapped in a life no longer of his choosing.
However, if you are an Elvis Presley fan or a fan of celebrity love stories, this film is worth your time to watch, which you can do in theaters, or on your favorite streaming service.
Please share in comments: Are you an Elvis and/or Priscilla Presley fan?
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