A documentary featuring never-before-seen footage of Elvis Presley’s residency at the International Hotel in Las Vegas — narrated by the King of Rock ’N’ Roll himself.
It has “concert” in its title, but EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert isn’t your typical concert film. Then again, director Baz Luhrmann’s filmmaking is rarely typical. The filmmaker behind Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet found a perfect match for his flamboyant, maximalist style with 2022’s biopic Elvis; Presley’s exuberant costumes and talent for performance a match made in heaven for the Australian auteur. Luhrmann’s fascination with the King of Rock ’N’ Roll continues with this dazzling mix of documentary and concert, his first non-fiction film.
There’s plenty of rare footage of Elvis performing here, particularly at his 1969 — 1976 Las Vegas residency at the International Hotel. It’s mixed with documentary elements that explore the star’s upbringing, success in Hollywood, his military service, and more, with Elvis himself narrating from archive audio. Editor Jonathan Redmond, a regular Luhrmann collaborator, balances it into a fascinating experience, delivering a rock ’n’ roll rhythm while balancing a wide array of material.
Everything here is designed to thrill, and seeing Elvis perform everything from his biggest hits to classics from The Beatles to Simon & Garfunkel feels like a privilege to watch.
There is so much unseen footage here — and all restored so immaculately — that if you weren’t familiar with Elvis, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’s still alive. Luhrmann and his team apparently pored over 59 hours of film negatives, as well as Super 8 footage from the Graceland archives. The colours and music fly off the screen.
The concert elements in particular make for an exhilarating viewing experience. There’s a reason the man has a reputation as one of the greatest musicians of all time, and Luhrmann’s film makes his star power abundantly clear. Everything here is designed to thrill, and seeing Elvis perform everything from his biggest hits to classics from The Beatles to Simon & Garfunkel feels like a privilege to watch.
Only occasionally does Luhrmann get in his own way. The documentary elements aren’t nearly as developed as the concert side, prompting more questions than it delivers answers. But the promised concert experience is otherworldly — the kind of unexpected thrills that’ll have you all shook up.
The offstage elements may slightly underwhelm, but Luhrmann’s kaleidoscopic exploration of Elvis’ Vegas residency is one of the most thrilling musical experiences you can have at a cinema.
