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 (040526)
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is an entertaining but not definitive concert
film featuring Elvis Presley's Las Vegas performances. The acronym EPiC, with a
small “i,” stands for "Elvis Presley in Concert". The film holds up against other
recent music documentaries, such as
Becoming Led Zeppelin
(2025), M: Depeche
Mode Live,
Moonage Daydream
about David Bowie, and those on Jeff Buckley and Devo. The film adds to the many existing Elvis documentary films and programs,
such as Elvis the Way It Is (1970) and Elvis on Tour (1972). However, the best
showcase of his talent still remains the brilliant 1968 Elvis Comeback Special,
one of the greatest musical performances I have seen.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert was directed by Baz Luhrmann, known for musicals
and films with prominent music such as Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet
(1996), and
Moulin Rouge!
(2001). Luhrmann has a strong interest in Elvis, previously directing Elvis
(2022), which focused on Elvis's relationship with Colonel Parker. Viewers
interested in the Elvis-Parker relationship can refer to previous docudrama
where Tom Hanks portrays the colonel .A montage in that film
features Colonel Parker as “The Devil in Disguise”, the filmmakers’ critical
perspective on Parker is evident.
This film primarily features footage from Elvis's post-army career, omitting his
Sun Records days. Highlights include 1957 concert footage with Elvis in a gold
suit, with Cary Grant and Sammy Davis Jr. visible in the crowd—visuals that have
appeared previously on YouTube but resonate more in the film. Notable
performances include: "How Great Thou Art," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "In
the Ghetto," a tough version of “Hard Headed Woman,” and a lavish "Burning Love"
where a line of women each kiss Elvis at the end.
Up to 80% of the footage in the film has never been seen before, culled from a
variety of sources. Most surprising was the amount of never before seen 35mm
Elvis concert footage found in the Warner Brothers Kansas Salt Mine storage
vault in Kansas. Originally Luhrmann’s team found 59 hours of Elvis concert
footage in the vault while researching Elvis (2022), all apparently
forgotten by the Studio. This footage forms the core of this film. Additionally,
through the Internet the team also discovered alternate versions of many of
Presley's most popular songs. Luhrmann, with Redmond and Peter Jackson, spent
over two years cataloging, restoring, digitizing, and syncing sound and visuals
from all these disparate sources.
The Beatles once said that, aside from Mick Jagger, no one could work a stage
like Elvis. This film shows that, though others, such as James Brown and perhaps
Prince, are close to his level.
While many performances are stellar, the film also reveals Presley’s declining
talent. Parker’s insistence on two nightly shows over five weeks exhausted Elvis
and stunted his career, making him a camp figure to younger generations with his
jump suited Evel Knievel-like image.
The film includes interview footage, such as Presley being asked during the
Vietnam War whether he would go to war. Elvis, known for being nonpolitical,
replied, "I would rather not say; I’m just an entertainer." The film also
reveals that Elvis’s father disapproved of his career, telling him, "I never met
a guitar player that was worth a damn."
The film does not align with the sociological insight of
Little Richard: I Am
Everything
(2023), but its well-restored IMAX visuals and concert footage will
please most Elvis fans.
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