PRISCILLA (2023)

Written & Directed By: Sofia Coopola

Based on the Book “ELVIS AND ME” by: Priscilla Presley And Sandra Harmon

Cinematography: Philippe Le Sourd

Editor: Sarah Flack

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen, Dagmara Domincyzk, Tim Post, Lynne Griffin, Dan Beirne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Dan Abramovici

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend.


An aesthetic to dig deeper into characters and moments lived in, not just the surface. A sensitive portrait or snapshot.

I get so excited about the new Sofia Coppola movies. While I enjoy her style, her movies I will admit at times aren’t the most exciting or action-packed. They are like stylistic recreations that are dramatized seem like recreations, and often feel humorous.

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, LOST IN TRANSLATION, SOMEWHERE, and MARIE ANTOINETTE is her best and a kind of winning streak. The rest have had moments and pieces that are admirable it can be hit or miss even if beautifully filmed they are generally passable they can’t say that they are totally enjoy, they all make you think certainly are experiences in themselves.

In fact, some people will use that against her, saying that they are stylish live-action photo shoots to make her films easier to write off, though they do contain more than that you have to be willing to sit and experience them to finally discover it.

there is something about the everyday realities more than all the glitz and glamour that she tries to dissect looking to expose the truth maybe because she grew up on the other side within the fantasy of Fame so she knows it inside and out. She gets to see the power of fame and how it can easily corrupt, even those who are supposed to be Bastians of morality.

It Is a love story, but still showcasing a young lady a teenager who feels like she’s being groomed by a female, older established, and famous male, not only a star but an eventual icon.

There is expected to be an adult around them even though innocence is what seems to be the attraction for him.

The film is about her coming of age with life in this relationship, where she has to learn to gain her strength eventually and be independent from a more one-sided relationship.

The film is not a gossipy or sensationalistic account as that has never been Miss Coppola’s style. We already have many movies and documentaries about Elvis Presley Coppola seems to be trying to expose the more intimate portrait of a well-known love story, not focusing on the legend or his career as much as this is her story so that we can get a better understanding of where she’s at And had to go through.

As the domestication is more than anything, as we watch her, it shows like a little girl in a grown-up world, her being contained and cut off.

The film doesn’t have as many artistic flourishes and retro but is also kind of plain. It seems most of the movie takes place at Graceland.

Jacob Elordi is believable and gives an informed performance as Elvis Presley. he excels in the story of a relationship that offers snippets of his career So he gets to focus more on the dramatic side and charming side of Elvis not so much the showman or the performer. With him being cast in the old days, this might’ve been a starter film for him or a beefcake movie to test out a heartthrob and their box office strength but here it’s more artistic and not so much stunt, casting the film could easily be seen as movie material, made a bit more with depth and patience

Cailee Spaeny is as good as Priscilla in one of her first leading roles. She comes across, is fragile, believable, and strong in each iteration of Priscilla. Even if the performance doesn’t blow the audience away, it is more of an emotional one, as she is the one to take us through all of this, and who we care about.

I am more familiar with Priscilla Presley as an actress primarily from THE NAKED GUN movies so this film was actually kind of eye-opening for me. The film offers glimpses of what we know or what he is known for but shows what it was like to have to live with him through his crisis

We get to see romance from the beginning until the end, as it seems like at some point got tired, and the passion died. the passion died, we do see the introduction the first the seduction, the liking the falling in love the consideration of the marriage, The fights, and infidelity on his part.

This is a narrative a bit like the recent release, maestro seeing young love, but also as famous as maintained, and acquired how to affect a loved one behind the scenes, and how they learn to manage, staying more in the shadows, but still being a partner.

Also, it should be a given, and I love the soundtrack that doesn’t have that many Elvis Presley songs on it. It’s a return form for Sophia, Coppola, and Hits harder than one might expect at times and it still feels just a bit fluffy.

I remember when certain Directors had movies coming out part of the anticipation of a new release was the soundtracks not necessarily the scores, which one looked forward to unless it was done by a favorite like Jon Brion. Not even new music it was whatever classic or unknown songs or artists of the past they would use if it was a popular song, the Directors used it in such a way that you looked at an experience or listen to it differently than before if new to you you have obsessed over it like a brand new single hot off the presses.

Sofia Coppola still manages to do this, There’s a moment in the film where they listen to songs, and she says that the song lacks a catchiness to it, which is how some might feel, but this kept me thoroughly entertained and might be one of her more accessible films, though some will consider it a bit too slow for their taste.

It might represent the same old, which is successful, though, doesn’t end him to an audience as he comes across more as a time capsule, rather than changing with the times and him wanting to move on yet afraid. Just as his wife Priscilla has needs he seems to be deterred because it doesn’t fit in with what he knows especially during the 1960s a time of rapid change.

Ir Shows him learning and teaching himself having a rebellious attitude and learning independence. Even though the colonel shut him down, the same is happening with her. Only Elvis was doing it to her as they say hurt people hurt people, and then leaving her alone in a huge house to entertain herself, but not wanting her to mix too much with the staff, what was she to do?

Grade: B

ROCK STAR (2001)

Directed By: Stephen Herek 
Written By: John Stockwell
Cinematography: Ueli Steiger 
Editor: Trudy Sharp 

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Dominic West, Timothy Spall, Dagmara Domincyzk, Jason Flemyng, Timothy Olyphant, Matthew Glave, Michael Shamus Wiles, Beth Grant, Stephen Jenkins, Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson, Zakk Wylde, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick, Amy Miller, Rachel Hunter, Heidi Mark, Carrie Stevens, Carey Lassard, Kristin Willits 

The lead singer of a tribute band becomes the lead singer of the real band he idolizes.


This is a film built off of wish fulfillment and watching the life and fantasy most members of the audience dream of, sort of like those entertainment shows that show you the houses and yachts of celebrities to impress you even though you might never actually get a chance to actually see or experience it and better yet this is based on a true story.

So while the film is showing someone else living it up. It feels within arms reach for the audience. Like voluntary torture with a story. A real-life fairy tale with a moral to it.

It’s the old talented being careful what you wish for because you get what you want but you might not be prepared for what it entails and what you have to do to maintain it

An all-American dream movie that shows the dark side and in the end is a happy ending that lets the hero stand on his own Terms. Yet ends up feeling cheesy

Mark Wahlberg is strong. Here as the devoted fan and Everyman who won’t bend in his fandom and cover their songs but when he gets the chance to be part of them finds he has to constantly make compromises

He sees the dark side of stardom and the same type of doctoral behavior he had with his cover band he notices it’s the same way in the actual band

There are many scenes showing the access of rock-star life the lifestyle and legendary parties but also the toll they can take and how they can change you and practically make you a slave or zombie to it. Change who you are and who you are to people how flexible your morals can become

Jennifer Aniston is sexy but  the outfits they give her are made to be flattering but they also, unfortunately, show the limitations of her body and for some odd reasons  make her appear older than Her co-star

This is one of the folks that showed his appeal and has a prepared audience for his more Everyman appeal yet who they would want to Be. Watch him have good times and imagine themselves there.

This seems like a film that would have more of an impact when it is set more in the 1980s or even 90s to show how bloated that period of time was. Watching it now it seems to deliver more an obvious message as well as trying to be a kind of throwback that feels out of date and a satire with little to say about the time. Instead of just throwing in hooked jabs of Jokes

The casting of Mark Wahlberg seems ironic considering his past as an overnight music star as Marky Mark in his teens. So while his character here is in a different genre of music. You can’t help but think if he dealt with some of the same issues when he was a music star rapper.

Based on a true story it stays entertaining and funny at parts but seems to try so hard for something that is more of a minor tale. 

Though pretty much of ItMs time and more disposable back then. This film plays much better over time. Still ridiculous but more heartfelt. An earnestness of the modern era That is kind of missing in most modern films of these times. 

Grade: C+