Subscribe to Popcast!
Apple Podcasts † Spotify † stitcher
Baz Luhrmann’s biopic “Elvis” has been one of this summer’s box office successes, demonstrating the continued appetite for stories about Elvis Presley, one of pop music’s dynamic and controversial figures, as well as the cinematic power of Luhrmann’s vibrant, sweeping style, who is optimized for the big screen.
The film is loyal to Presley (Austin Butler), and uses his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) as a narrator and also a moral foil. It highlights Presley as an artist and cultural agitator more than as a person, while blending or rewriting historical moments to serve the bigger story.
In this week’s Popcast, a talk about Presley’s career, how the film smoothed out the rough edges of his story, and the role fantasy and imagination play in remembering pop culture heroes.
Guests:
-
AO Scott, co-chief film critic of The New York Times
-
Alanna Nash, author of “The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley”, “Baby, Let’s Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him” and several other books
Connect to Popcast. Join the Popcast Community: Join the Show Facebook group and Discord channel† We want to hear from you! Tune in and tell us what you think [email protected]† Follow our host, Jon Caramanica, on Twitter: @joncaramanica†