Mark Kermode reviews Priscilla - Kermode and Mayo's Take

Kermode is a man who holds the Elvis story in high regard, so this is a glowing endorsement in my eyes

I didn't have strong feelings about the film either way, altho I thought the performances were quite good. One of the hardest things to do on film is be "internal" because it can easily come across as "vacant". Cailee Spaeny was excellent in keeping something going behind her eyes at all times. My biggest problem from a film standpoint is that there's no real 3rd act. The movie spends an inordinate amount of time building up the "waiting" period, and then they get married, have a kid, and get divorced in the last 15 minutes (I didn't look at the clock, this is just what it felt like.) A far better ending, for me, would be to show how Priscilla became the champion of Elvis' estate, as you mentioned several times in the review. Did she do it for materialistic reasons, so she could share in the profits? Did she come to view him differently after he died? It would've made for a nice bookend to see her as a child, knowing nothing of the world, much less HIS world, then transition into a more self-possessed woman who realized that their relationship was not working, and then finally end up becoming HIS caretaker, in a sense. Maybe they didn't want to put Spaeny into "aging" makeup, or maybe Sofia Coppolla doesn't really care about that. But for me, I just didn't get the point of this film.

'It has to do with what you don't say, rather than what you do say.' That perfectly sums up this film. Great review!

A friend of mine wrote a book about Wrestling in the southern parts of the USA in the 60s. From what he says? Child brides, fathers letting their daughters (mothers had no say) move in with men - usually a lot older than Elvis, and without his security - far from being weird, as Mark says, was almost common place in poorer areas.

Saw this at LFF and was really surprised and enamoured by this one

god i was waiting for this review

Jacob Elordi? Austin Butler? Best Elvis performance was Stitch's.

Sounds really interesting. Will go see it this week.

Watching this film, it is clear that Priscilla was groomed. Even if you believe that there was no sexual relationship, the relationship was inappropriate. She was still a child. One of the weirdest scenes is when Elvis takes her to Las Vegas.

Priscilla Beaulieu played herself very well in a number of 'Dallas' series.

As a lifelong Elvis fan, a Sofia Coppola fan, my anticipation was high. As with the ‘silk glove touch’ she applied to Lost in Translation this one has the same tone albeit very different subject matter and as you say it’s a ‘this is how it was’ you think about it and judge for yourselves film. You need to know about them to appreciate the film or do you? I think the context was all there. What a performance by the leading actress, chapeau. Interesting to note before her death Lisa Marie denounced the film via the script she was sent stating her father was depicted as predatory…..would you let a 14 year old start a relationship like this?

Priscilla met Elvis in 1959 at 14 while they both was living in Germany but she did not moved to Memphis (his hometown) until 1963 when she was two months before her 18th birthday. They was in two different countries for three years and he main girlfriend was Anita Wood that he dated from 1957 - 1962.

❤

I felt it painted the picture of Elvis as a narcissist

That was a whole lot of Mark tippy-toeing around the fact Elvis was 24 and Pricilla was 14 when they met, and ive no idea why.

its a pretty disturbing film

Coppola　and　Priscilla　Bealiue　hurted　him　for　moneymaking. Coppola'sgirlfantasy　movie　is　fake→ greedy　egoistic　shamelesswoman'sstory　is　true

Really interesting use of the final song. Dolly Parton has said Elvis wanted to record it, but Colonel Tom said if he did he would then need to own the rights entirely. Dolly (rightly, considering what then happened with that song subsequently) refused. Not a coincidental choice when you consider the depictions of Elvis reacting to Priscilla finding her feet and growing in confidence. I found the film thought provoking even though the facts are uncomfortable. Im glad Priscilla has shared her story.

The veracity of the statement that it was a “platonic” arrangement initially can’t be verified 😧 It’s weird & dicey as fuck.

Amazing film. I categorise it as a psychological horror.