Elvis & Nixon

A

agcohn

Well-known member
Just saw this tonight. Whacky movie, but very funny and a great performance from Michael Shannon. I would definitely recommend it.
 
Can't wait to see it. I've seen the 1997 movie "Elvis Meets Nixon", actually bought the VHS tape after the rental place told me they had an extra copy they'd sell me for $5. Having read about 2 dozen Elvis biographies, I believe a lot of what the '97 movie portrayed was factual. Elvis told his buddies all about his adventure over and over again, giving us a glimpse at his version of events.

Mark
 
I really enjoyed the 1997 version, especially the choice to have Dick Cavett narrate. I recall the film reached one particularly absurd moment where they took the opportunity to freeze frame and have Cavett chime in that all this really did happen.
 
I haven't seen the 1997 version, but I thought that Michael Shannon did an amazing job of being very funny, while never approaching the level of spoof. It felt like a very authentic performance of someone who just happened to a be a very strange and interesting person.
 
Just watched "Elvis and Nixon". I might have enjoyed it more had I not already seen the older version, "Elvis Meets Nixon". I found the performances very lackluster and the dialogue was just not there. Elvis had lots of unique expressions and was a very high energy guy and that didn't come across at all. Somebody definitely didn't do enough research on him.

By contrast, "Elvis Meets Nixon" was very funny through-out. They really had the dialogue down pat, as well as Elvis' moves and idiosyncrasies. The various predicaments were much more expanded upon, more detailed sequences.

Really wanted to like this newer version, and I'll get the DVD, because that's got to be in the collection, but just not too impressed with the effort. Don't want to sound over the top, but I think they could have made a better movie from the out-takes of "Elvis Meets Nixon".

Mark
 
Mark Watson said:
Just watched "Elvis and Nixon". I might have enjoyed it more had I not already seen the older version, "Elvis Meets Nixon". I found the performances very lackluster and the dialogue was just not there. Elvis had lots of unique expressions and was a very high energy guy and that didn't come across at all. Somebody definitely didn't do enough research on him.

By contrast, "Elvis Meets Nixon" was very funny through-out. They really had the dialogue down pat, as well as Elvis' moves and idiosyncrasies. The various predicaments were much more expanded upon, more detailed sequences.

Really wanted to like this newer version, and I'll get the DVD, because that's got to be in the collection, but just not too impressed with the effort. Don't want to sound over the top, but I think they could have made a better movie from the out-takes of "Elvis Meets Nixon".

Mark
Click to expand...

Interesting take...

Now I've GOT to see the 1997 version.
 
I really enjoyed the old version. One of the cleverest moves was hiring Dick Cavett to do the narration. Totally on tone. I recall one moment when the whole story got so insane that they freeze frame the image and Cavett chimes in with a "remember, this all actually happened. The donut shop, the gun... it all really took place." Priceless.
 
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