Elvis and Nixon is a very funny film built on a basis as light and loose as a comedy prompts to be. Though, it may be a little too loose when you consider the incredibly serious and heavy handed ideals that the film adopts at times, so it all seems like a contradiction. Seriously, one could have a field day calling out the thematic and acting contradictions that this movie presents at face value. Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey never look close to how the president and the rockstar actually looked (Spacey lacks the wide-eyes/nose combo, and Shannon is a little too wrinkled in the face). But, the performances are wonderfully well researched with the mannerisms and outlandish natures the men fully represented shining through. It leaves a parallel to real life that seems broken and yet absolutely hilarious in its own right. One could even say that the impersonations are SO good that they almost push the spirit of the two men, given both impersonations have become unanimous in pop culture (Think Point Break for Nixon and the prevalence of Elvis impersonators for Elvis). The hilariocity is especially pushed through a scene in which Shannon’s Elvis runs into two mocking Elvis impersonators. The men still don’t look like Elvis and Nixon though, which leads to the ever so slight rupture between the film and the audience. To top it all off, the screenplay goes and does the same thing. The events that are taking place seem like they should ultimately carry weight as Elvis goes on a madcap journey to gain a Federal Badge, but everything isn’t played one bit straight. The offices that Elvis struts into are the offices of important people who make real decisions, but in front of a man so famous he could be recognized half a world over, the sense of professional courtesy goes out the window. It almost seems to adopt the structure of watching Elvis walk up to a powerful person and seeing if they will break under the excitement of being next to him. That’s an odd and almost schizophrenic structure to attack in this movie, but it never fails to be funny, watching big men in important rooms gawk over this one man who almost seems like a simpleton compared to them. One such person is Colin Hanks, as Egil Krogh. He’s basically Nixon’s glorified secretary, and his performance accentuates how the film becomes more interesting when a character that almost doesn’t take any of Elvis’s shit clashes with the King. Hanks is as good an actor like his father (Tom Hanks), and plays the role as a man swirling in all the excitement of meeting Elvis, but not being able to control him. The film’s stand out funniest moments come from two instances of Hanks simply saying one word (guess what it is?) that is both funny and sharp. That said, the use of strong language popping up liberally does bring to mind how sachrinne the rest of the film’s design is crafted. Everything has an early 70’s pop to it; a manufactured sense that seems like it fits a less silly and vulgar movie. Yet, the whole thing is hilarious enough to keep chugging along for 86 minutes until the obligatory, but somehow unnecessary “This happened to this person later in life” biopic scrawls happen. Shannon and Spacey can’t be understated, and are not wasted. The film succeeds at being the comedy that it is, but might embrace that comedic touch a little too much. I give Elvis and Nixon a 7.5 out of 10.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |