Elvis is one of the most iconic musicians of all time. He might even be one of the most popular humans of all time. His work, especially his hit songs, inspired so many around the nation, so when I heard Priscilla was a real thing, I didn’t have high expectations. I figured the expectations would be very high for this film, considering it’s also directed by Sophia Coppola. But, Coppola and the talented cast of Priscilla made this one of my very favorite movies of 2023.
Right away, it’s very easy to tell how amazing the set and costume design in this film is. It immerses you in the world of Priscilla Presley. In the beginning, Priscilla lived with her parents in a small town in Germany. She is approached one day at a restaurant, where she sitting by herself, and asked if she likes Elvis. Her answer is clearly yes. From there on, she attends a party where she meets Elvis himself at the age of 14, and that’s how the story begins.
Throughout the whole movie, Cailee Spaeny gives an excellent performance as Priscilla, who is struggling to find what Elvis means to her, and if love is worth prioritizing in her life. It’s truly a heartbreaking performance and a standout among the film as a whole.
I anticipate that everyone is going to interpret Priscilla’s story differently. For me, I saw her story as a story of independence, as Priscilla finds who she truly is, and what she truly wants in her life. Does she want to be with a global phenomenon but be treated like an object? But, in the end, and this isn’t a spoiler, Priscilla realizes what she truly wants, and there is something so powerful about that, and the way Coppola and Spaeny tell this story.
Needless to say, the screenplay and acting from Jacob Elordi (Elvis) were also phenomenal. It still blows my mind how Elordi was able to perfect the iconic voice of Elvis.
Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen, Dagmara Dominczyk, Tim Post, Lynne Griffin, Dan Beirne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Dan Abramovici, Matthew Shaw, Tim Dowler-Coltman, R Austin Ball, Olivia Barrett, Stephanie Moore, Luke Humphrey
Rating: R (for drug use and some language)
Release Date: 10/27/23 – Limited, 11/3/23 – Wide
This film is a character-driven narrative, which isn’t a bad thing at all. I do know people who prefer plot-driven narratives, which is completely ok, but if character-driven films are not for you, this might not be the correct film for a movie night. I, on the other hand, respect the level of depth the characters face within the screenplay of the movie. By the end of the film, I felt as if I was truly attached to Pricilla and I just wanted Priscilla to be successful. She’s gone through so much, it’ll be very common for one to root for Priscilla, but the story is also being told through her point of view. For me, this film turned Elvis into a bad guy. Throughout the narrative, it was clear that Elvis thought of Priscilla as an object. There is one scene in particular I’m thinking of, and every time I go back and watch it, my heart breaks a little more.
For all the Elvis fans, this might be a hard watch, but an eye-opening one to say the least. The entire cast and crew did a fantastic job catching Priscilla’s emotions throughout the film, and the set design was just immaculate. You will truly feel as if you have just been transported back to the 1960s when Elvis was at his peak stardom.
Wyatt’s Takes 