Priscilla (2023) * *

Directed by: Sofia Coppola

Starring:  Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Tim Post, Dagmara Dominczyk, Emily Mitchell, Ari Cohen

Writer-director Sofia Coppola makes film about lonely people who feel lonelier because they are trapped or isolated from the world.   Coppola's Lost in Translation (2003) is a disquieting film about two people who are totally alone in Tokyo, a city of millions.  This is what drew her to Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 autobiography Elvis and Me.  She was fourteen when she met Elvis Presley (Elordi) while he was stationed with the army in West Germany.  They connect despite their ten-year age difference.  Elvis is vulnerable and grieving the recent loss of his beloved mother.   Priscilla (Spaeny) is a shoulder to cry on and to her, the idea of Elvis Presley courting her is surreal and something out of a dream. 

Priscilla eventually, after many dates and meetings with Elvis even after he is discharged from the army, moves into Graceland under the watchful eye of Elvis' father Vernon (Post), Elvis' grandmother, and other family members.   Or is it more like imprisoned?  Priscilla isn't allowed to be seen on the grounds because such a sight would disappoint the female fans camped outside Graceland's gates.   Elvis goes away on movie shoots in which his dalliances with his female co-stars make gossip column news.  Elvis denies to Priscilla that anything is going on, but where there's smoke, there's fire.  Priscilla wants to visit Elvis on set.  He denies the request, stating that he wants her at home and at his beck and call.  The Memphis Mafia hangs around waiting to act on the boss' demands.  

Even after Lisa Marie's birth, Elvis remains controlling, insecure, and soon subtly abusive.   Spaeny reflects Priscilla's awkwardness and insecurity because, let's face it, she's barely a high school graduate when she marries the King of Rock and Roll.   Trying to process this emotional roller coaster must have been difficult.  Elordi is an extremely tall 6' 5" and towers over Priscilla, which has its distractions, but the Elordi performance is not flashy, but effective nonetheless.  However, he is no one's idea of how Elvis looked, but it is a role of subtlety instead of pizzazz.   The performances aren't the problem with Priscilla as much as an overly quiet tone.   It is a muted film, with scenes meant to be more dramatic coming off as dull as dishwater.   When Priscilla eventually drives away from Graceland with Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You playing on the soundtrack, we are left unmoved even though I suppose we should be happy for her. 

I haven't read the book, so I'm sure there may have been parts left out which didn't fit Coppola's vision, but while other biopics and true stories sometimes are guilty of taking too much dramatic license, I fear Priscilla didn't take nearly enough to make it compelling.  

Elor