Fans of Elvis went many years without a good biopic about him and his life. That was until Baz Luhrman’s film last year came out. It was a tour de force performance for Austin Butler. This was a great film all around, though, and painted Colonel Tom Parker as a villain in Elvis’s life. Now, fans and filmgoers get to see the other side of the coin that that film didn’t touch on as much. The story of Elvis’s ex-wife, Priscilla, this time around played by Cailee Spaeny. 

Priscilla Beaulieu is a normal 14-year-old girl entering high school as a freshman. She lived in Europe with her parents and little brother during the wartime. Her father is a strict military man. So when she is invited to a party by another soldier he is skeptical. Eventually, he agrees, and she goes to the party and meets Elvis (Jacob Elordi), the burgeoning musical superstar and actor. She instantly connects with this older man, and this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.  Despite their age difference,

With this film being from the perspective of Priscilla, there are red flags that today we would have problems with. Even back then, in the 60s, her parents questioned but eventually went along with her because of who this man was and the promises he made to her parents regarding her education. This pairing comes across as very creepy, but we already know what happens, so it’s not much of a problem for the audience watching. Other people at the time might think it’s cute that this mega star musician and actor is interested in this young girl. He had ulterior motives why she was the one for him based on the book Elvis and Me by Priscilla. 

Sofia Coppola does a great job of showing the red flags of why this relationship was doomed from the beginning. Phone calls where two are talking end with I love You from Priscilla and Goodbye from Elvis. No, I love you back from Elvis. The fact that he is a big star and must be out in California filming movies means he leaves his girlfriend and eventual wife home alone back in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a lot to think about while she’s there, and it’s not good as far as Elvis is concerned. She reads the newspapers about potential affairs, and that gives her wild thoughts about her man cheating on her with Hollywood starlets. 

A few of the things that make this biopic exceptional are the production design, Tamara Deverell recreates Graceland, cars and other places and things that give this film the authentic look it needs, hair styling and makeup by Cliona Furey and Jo-Ann McNeil give Priscilla all the various looks she has in the movie and costumes by Stacy Battat, she makes everybody look the part of being in the 60s and 70s during this time. The dresses and clothing looked fantastic for everybody in the film. Also, the score is very good by Phoenix. Coppola and company do a  great job making this movie look like it should. 

One of the best things about this movie that is so great is the two lead actors. Coppola found two actors, Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, who embodied these two big celebrities in this country. Spaeny looked young because she was young, but she showed the emotional side of a girl who was going through this whirlwind life and marriage. Her immaturity shows through this character. Elordi had big shoes to fill as well after the great performance by Austin Butler last year. He gets the voice down pat. I still think Butler was a little better as this character overall, but he was good in the role. Not great. Spaeny is good as well, but I would say she’s on the outside looking in of the Best Actress Academy Award Race. 

I thought Priscilla was good, not great. It captured the whole life of Elvis’s ex-wife from her, keeping the fires going at home and everything before and after. Spaeny became this young woman, and I believed the tough relationship she was going through with this man. He wanted to create the perfect woman for himself; he could come home to each time he did come home. It wasn’t enough for her, though. Coppola captured the perfect look and feel in this film for what this story was about from the production design, makeup, hairstyling, and costumes. The score gave it an interesting sound as well. This was a different side of the same coin from Elvis last year. It showed pretty much what I expected from this side of their story. Even though it was a tad creepy early on. 

3 ½ stars

Dan Skip Allen