Elvis (Blu-ray) [Blu-ray] [Standard]

Baz Luhrmann's expectedly electric biopic of the King of Rock 'n' Roll offers an arresting central performance by Austin Butler, as the peaks and valleys of Elvis Presley's performing career are recounted through the deathbed reflections of ex-manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), the Southern Svengali who cannily trained the Tupelo youngster's charismatic gifts on the American public-and just as ruthlessly exploited them. Olivia DeJonge, Richard Roxburgh, Helen Thomson also star. 159 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English. Two-disc set.

Just two years after Elvis Presley died, Kurt Russell brought him back to life in the original biopic about the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Broadcast on ABC in 1979, Elvis marked the first time director John Carpenter would work together in what would become a legendary pairing in film history (Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, The Thing and Escape From L.A.). Tracing Presley's life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant conquering of Las Vegas, Elvis features Shelley Winters (Gladys Presley), Season Hubley (Priscilla Presley), Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father as Vernon Presley), Pat Hingle (Colonel Tom Parker), Joe Mantegna (InchMemphis MafiaInch member Joe Esposito) and Ed Begley Jr. (drummer D.J. Fontana) in an all-star supporting cast for an effort that garnered numarous Emmy® nominations including Outstanding Lead Actor for Russell.

Elvis [DVD]