Priscilla - DVD, BLURAY, Digital

I recently watched Priscilla, Sofia Coppola’s adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me, and it left a lasting impression. The film offers an intimate look at Priscilla Beaulieu’s teenage years and her complex relationship with Elvis Presley, portrayed through Cailee Spaeny’s subtle and poignant performance.What struck me most was how the film captures the surreal and isolating experience of being a young woman swept into a world of fame and control. The cinematography is soft and atmospheric, mirroring Priscilla’s internal world, while Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis is both charismatic and unsettling. The film doesn't shy away from depicting the power dynamics and emotional complexities of their relationship, making it both compelling and thought-provoking.While some may find the pacing slow, I appreciated the film's focus on Priscilla's perspective, offering a nuanced portrayal of her journey from infatuation to self-awareness. It's a film that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll, inviting reflection on love, identity, and autonomy.

An instant classic!!!!! Absolutely loved it!!!! Such a great movie! The story was beautiful, the acting was amazing, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I did watch the Priscilla movie and I paid for it. Two weeks later it was free on another channel. I don’t know if the ones of us who watched it and paid for it and then it went onto a different channel to get our money back. it was a good movie and, a sort of rep kind away and I just don’t believe that happened. The first Elvis movie was the one that I watched over and over and can this one was not put together so if you wanna watch a movie just something else this one and I do think that everybody should get a refund of either 699 or 799 for this product because it came on soon to a another streaming service and you still charged me the amount and the amount for a movie that did not have much of a plot to it. I would not buy I would not strain it. I would not waste my time on it.

The only Elvis movie to portray non-fiction events from another's point of view - that alone distinguishes this thoughtful film from the others. (Based on Priscilla's auto-bio, there was a TV version in the 80's; but that had cheap production, hacky TV direction & a quite unconvincing Elvis portrayed by Dale Midkiff. It withstands no comparison with this as artful storytelling.)The long-ago publishing of the auto-biography and airing of the TV movie version have me scratching my head as to what could upset fans defensive of Elvis' image (including departed daughter Lisa Marie,) since anything scandalous was revealed in some form long ago, reverberating through celebrity press at the time. Perhaps people are more sensitive to that well into the PC / Me Too discussion questioning past & present sexist values towards women, but at the same time, recent movies like Get on Up or Ray have shown beloved music figures with complicated and yes sometimes abusive relationships - movies with audiences who accepted a balanced portrayal and forgive the subject enough for any offensives enough to still value the humanity in their brilliant art. So why should this be so different? So again, the difference is not in severity of behavior depicted, but in its thoughtfully considered point of view in depicting a relationship that was simultaneously tender & caring, passionate, as well as a curious eyebrow raiser considering the age difference, and depicting sexist mores of the time, as amplified in ways by the incompatibilities of a rock star lifestyle with any woman's idea of happy marriage and home life, even today, much less in the era of celebrated domestic conformity.Anyone who recognizes Elvis' outrageously sexually charged charisma can see this man was never meant to be married and faithful to one woman. Society dictated marriage was a legitimizing necessity, but this was a mold Elvis could never have fit. Ironically, his crazy lifestyle was one thing that drew him to the relative stability of an unassuming and sincere partner at home or during much travel.Say what you will about the extremes and self-important sanctimony of judging the past through todays lens, there's no denying the power balance depicted is both unique to its subject (and unprecedented fame of its star) but also indicative of celebrity relationship power balances still traumatizing those less powerful. This is NOT however to say Elvis is depicted as deplorably as recent offenders in Hollywood and music (largely Hip-Hop) have been. These are illegal acts of predators. Anyone who labels a predator based on this have, if they've really watched it at all, did not see the stories or characterizations as presented.True to her stated intentions, Sofia Copolla has made a very empathetic portrayal of a genuine love story between characters, both intelligent yet vulnerable, from the less considered point of view of a girl who grew up perhaps too fast, and the woman who later needed to redefine growing up as leaving what she loved the most in order to put herself at the center of her own life and choices. That Elvis came to understand this, that they parted amicably, and both persuasively stated they would forever be in love with the other, speaks volumes and informs all the portrayals depicted.The cast especially the leads are terrific. Cailey Spaney's (Sp?) performance clearly announces the arrival of gifted new star-to-be. Jacob Eldori must obviously face more preconceived expectations, but plays Elvis in a surprisingly understated way with serves the unusual point of view. This artfully skips over many cliche pitfalls, but keeps focus on Elvis as he was in his most personal moments (instead of ping ponging in and out of showbiz events.) The shyness and genuine humility side that never left him, even as his lifestyle extremes lead to exploitive & sadly self-centered behaviors toward Priscilla. Can anyone be surprised by this in this day & age? The point is not to unveil scandal, but to bring iconic figures down to ground level, to walk beside them outside the spotlights, and see their poignant frailties and corrupting temptations, things all couples deal with in their own way.Production wise, this is a truly outstanding depiction of period detail on a minimal budget. Copolla's eye for detail is always spot on, and plays on the strength of lower budged period design: the lack of slickness in maximizing spectacle in big budget treatments, showing a more intimate, lived in world, where characters seem more at one with their environments, less so cultural touchstones destined to transcend modest beginnings. And even with Elvis as the world's biggest star, their meeting in Germany during his army stint provides more homey surroundings with parties and gatherings in very normal looking homes, far from the opulence and grandeur of Graceland and loftier settings. It's very "you-are-there" authentic, capping off the many elements that make this an unusually intimate and down to earth portrayal of some very famous people.If you're curious at all, I think you'll enjoy the film, including those with not much exposure to Elvis that are interested in unique love stories and strong depictions of time and place in unique cultural periods. I think it's a quietly remarkable film, a strong entry in a number of genre categories, and proof Sofia Copolla is the real deal as a writer / director, someone likely to continue to surprise and enlighten with very personal & intimate films, from a legacy director with strong cinematic gifts that are all her own.

This was a rental. Movie was clear. Great movie.