SUMMARY
- Both films, "Priscilla" and "Elvis," offer wildly different interpretations of Elvis and his role in American history, but both Jacob Elordi and Austin Butler give bold and unique performances.
- Butler's portrayal of Elvis in Luhrmann's film captures the essence of the rock and roll star, while Elordi's performance in "Priscilla" focuses on the intimate moments of Elvis' relationship with Priscilla.
- Butler's performance as Elvis is larger-than-life and emotionally charged, fitting the grand and unrealistic style of Luhrmann's film, while Elordi's portrayal is smaller and more grounded, suitable for the softer approach of Coppola's movie.
Within just two years, audiences have been gifted with two Elvis-related films from auteurs; Sofia Coppola's Priscilla and Baz Luhrmann's Elvis. In Priscilla, Elvis is played by Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, while Austin Butler received widespread praise and awards attention for his turn in Elvis. One film does not negate the other, and the two work beautifully together as companion pieces on the legacy of Elvis and his role in American history, but the two movies delivered wildly different interpretations of the king of rock.
Lurhman's film is a more traditional biopic of Elvis Presley, telling his entire life story in just three hours, while Priscilla is told from the perspective of Elvis' young wife, and focuses on the intimate moments of their relationship. The films have wildly different styles and therefore had wildly different types of performances, but both Elordi and Butler have received praise for their performance. The actors are both delivering bold and unique performances, but only one is the definitive on-screen version of Elvis.
Butler Had To Capture How Elvis Performed
Austin Butler's Elvis is three hours long, but it is almost wall-to-wall music. The film captures the soundscape and scope of an Elvis performance and a large section of the film is focused on specific performances Elvis did. Much of Butler's preparation for the role was getting the physicality of Elvis down pat, and recreating how he moved and sang on stage.
On the other hand, Priscilla did not get the rights to play any Elvis music, and the film barely shows Elordi performing, and when he does, it's not with an iconic Elvis performance. Many times during Butler's performance it is easy to forget that he is not actually Elvis because he matches the public's perception of him so well. Elordi had the equally difficult job of trying to go against the public image, but what Butler accomplished was downright magical.
Elordi's Elvis Is Scary
The Lurhman film frames Elvis as a victim of his vices, and his malignant manager Colonel Tom Parker. In that film, whenever Elvis throws a fit (or a chair) or takes too many pills, it is seen as heartbreaking and unavoidable. Priscilla frames these moments in a much more grounded way, showing how Elvis' erratic personality would affect those around him. Elordi brings an intensity and edge to Elvis that was nowhere to be found in Butler's portrayal. Since Elordi isn't the film's protagonist he can go a lot darker with his take.
Butler Is In Nearly Every Frame Of The Movie
As the titles would suggest, Elvis is much more interested in the rock and roll star, while Priscilla is all about his wife. Cailee Spaeny is the real star of Sofia Coppola's drama, and while Elordi is in most of the movie, there are large sections where his absence speaks for the character. Butler's movie hits the ground running with Elvis and never lets him out of the frame. It is always about Elvis and his internal struggles, thus giving Butler a lot more to play off of.
Priscilla Focuses On The More Intimate Moments
Austin Butler studied videos and recordings of Elvis for hours, trying to perfectly encapsulate how Presley presented to the world. That process wouldn't have worked for Elordi, as he was trying to recreate the small moments that took place behind closed doors with his wife and close friends. Elordi wasn't trying to recreate Elvis the icon, but rather the husband. Butler's larger-than-life god among men wouldn't have played well off Spaeny's wide-eyed Priscilla, so Elordi's smaller, less showy performance is appropriate.
The Lurhman Movie Is More Grand And Unrealistic
Not only is Baz Lurhman's Elvis more focused on Elvis' public life, but it is also far more stylized than Priscilla's. Both films are a product of their filmmaker and both actors had to match that energy to convincingly play Elvis. Butler had to be big, flashy, and emotional, because that is what a Lurhman movie is, and anything less than what he delivered could have seemed flat and lifeless. Coppola is a softer filmmaker, and one whose interest lies in the small details of an event, not the grandiose of it. That means Elordi can't go as big as Butler, or he would seem too cartoonish and unbelievable.
Butler Had To Portray The Character At Serval Points In His Life
Priscilla opens in 1959, but most of the film takes place in the late 60s/early 70s and ends once Priscilla decides to leave Elvis in 1973. This is not an insignificant amount of time, but in terms of the life of Elvis, it is only a fragment of the story. Elordi is playing Elvis after he has risen to fame and become a movie star, and the film ends before his eventual burn-out and death. Butler, on the other hand, has to play Elvis through every era of his career, starting as a young man with everything to prove, and ending as an overweight singer in Vegas.
Butler Is A Better Elvis Than Elordi
Austin Butler's work in Elvis isn't just the definitive take on the icon in film, it is one of the best lead performances of the decade so far. The entire film is on his shoulders, and he carries it to the finish line. However, the same could be said of Cailee Spaeny in Priscilla, and Elordi is delivering a fantastic performance in his own right. Neither Elvis would work in the other's movie, and both actors are doing exactly what they are being asked to do, but Butler is being asked to do much more than Elordi and never fails.
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