FilmSnobReviews

Title: Priscilla
MPA Rating: R
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen
Runtime: 1 hr 53 mins

What It Is: Priscilla Beaulieu (Spaeny) meets young, but still much older, singer Elvis Presley (Elordi). The two are smitten with each other and so begins a rather long courtship between the teenage Priscilla and the older Elvis. As life unfolds, as it tends to, the two become closer and closer. As this happens Elvis’ star burns brighter and brighter and with this rise in popularity so do come the vices that eventually take over. We get a look at the life of the woman behind the legend, a woman thrust into the spotlight before she could even drive.

What We Think: Cailee Spaeny is a young actress who, for me has really started to come into her own. Her though she comes almost outta nowhere and KNOCKS this out of the park. Not only does she nail the youthful naivety of Priscilla but the unbridled exuberance she exhibits fits the characters curious nature. Sofia Coppola is and has always been such an aesthetically focused director. She once again makes a gorgeous pink hued portrait of one of pop cultures most important widows. Working, for her third straight film, with Philippe Le Sourd. Their previous works together were the gorgeous but flawed On the Rocks and The Beguiled.

Our Grade: B+, Having seen Baz Luhrmann’s film on the adjacent subject, her husband Elvis I think I prefer this. Sure, it doesn’t have the pomp and circumstance of Luhrmann’s journey but the simple telling of this story of a girl plucked from normalcy works far better for me because structurally we get a better script and Jacob Elordi’s pitch perfect performance as “The King” is something desperately needed against the minuet and gorgeous work Cailee Spaeny is doing here. Another stunner from this incredibly talented woman behind the lens.