Priscilla Movie Review: Cinematically rich and delicate, yet uneven in pace and narrative

Story: Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, the biopic follows the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley’s romance and marriage with Priscilla Beaulieu, from the latter’s perspective. Review: “You have everything a woman could want,” Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi) says to his wife Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny) when she tells him she’s leaving their marriage. With one stroke, director Sofia Coppola depicts how the two are living in separate worlds and how unaware the former is of the emotional turmoil his wife is in. The stillness and the heavy silence in the scene with the Presleys softly conversing is heartrending — a tone that is masterfully maintained every time Priscilla's empty and lonely life as a megastar’s partner and then wife is presented. Conversely, there are nights filled with outrageous parties, psychedelia with the duo tripping together on substances, and the bright stage shows that light up the screen. Director Sofia Coppola excels in presenting these contradictions, as cinematographer Philipe Le Sourd translates her vision on the screen perfectly. The viewer will revel in this cinematically rich and larger-than-life outing that’s as visually stunning as it’s delicate in presenting Priscilla’s loneliness, angst, and longing to be with the man she loves. However, the screenplay also presents the iconic musician as a selfish, controlling, and overbearing child-man with violent outbursts and not much more. Seeing a side to him where he wanted to dictate everything from Priscilla’s hair colour to clothes, work or be at home, will unnerve you. Although the narrative needs to be from Priscilla’s perspective, the skewed presentation prevents it from going to the depths it could have. From the time Priscilla enters his home, Graceland, the narrative seems too eager to establish the life of loneliness she was setting herself up for. The movie is a revelation in many aspects, such as Elvis’s quirks (he reads passages from the Bible to Priscilla), denies her physical pleasures, and what one of the most loved men was like in real life. The movie follows a linear storyline neatly divided into three parts — Elvis sweeping the 14-year-old Priscilla off her feet, their marriage fraught with highs and lows, and their eventual separation. While the first two acts are well-balanced, the third one is abrupt, making the ending seem extremely rushed after meticulously putting the world together. What’s flawless, however, is its star cast, fronted by Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. From being a teenager and a star’s wife to a woman in her late 20s, Cailee brilliantly portrays the many nuances of Priscilla. Jacob gets Elvis’s mannerisms and drawl perfectly, too, and looks every bit disarmingly charming, just like one of the most famous Americans in the world. The cinematic richness and perfect performances will win the viewers over. The movie has its flaws, but for these, a trip to the theatre may prove worthwhile.