Elvis Presley: The Searcher

Elvis Presley - bigger than life. If you are a fan, you may know certain things portrayed here. But just hearing the music and seeing him (perform) and hear others talk about him ... well I'd say it is more than worth your time. This is or at least seems as in depth as one can get. We see him, but we hear so many other people - wife, associates, people who worked with him and so many more.

While I would call myself a fan, I had no idea how the leg shaking was born. There are anecdotes here, the highs, the lows and everything in between. But most of all we get as much into his mindset as is possible, without him being here to tell us.

He combined music styles ... he was a rebel and yet he had to stay in his lane (see his movie career and other things he had to sacrifice). Producers hiring him for his music rather than his acting abilities ... the pressure that got to him ... there is so much to unpack here. It's such a shame Elvis left the building ... way too soon! Still as many will probably agree with me in saying this: Thank you ... thank you very much!

I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but the lovingly in-depth, full scope of this 2-part documentary got me closer. I of course knew about much of it (his days at Sun Studios, the unfulfilling Hollywood years, his "larger"-than-life Vegas swan song), but it shined a light on so many things I didn't know. The rock lifestyle didn't get him addicted to pills; the army did. His extreme stage fright after getting back to music. His entire relationship with malicious Tom Parker.

If you want to understand Elvis Presley, then watch this documentary. The man was an icon, a phenomenal talent, and this film explores his story as an artist (and I'd hardly even call myself a fan. I was a little kid when Elvis died. This is my mom's music). Yes, the movie is a bit slow. But that's the pace needed to tell this story - there's a lot to unpack. This is not flashy biopic; instead, it's essential viewing to understand rock n roll music and American culture.

Sometimes it's hard for anyone born after Elvis' death to understand what was so special about him, what the mania was about, especially when we only see his later image repeated all the time. This two-part documentary lovingly follows Elvis' spirit, the essence that made him special, throughout all the stages of his life.

It starts with his roots as a boy who lived in poverty but also immersed in music, into his first success as a raw traveling talent, to his shooting success, his plateau into commercial mediocrity, then his reemergence as a larger than life superstar before his decline. It gives a more critical perspective into the musical elements and the artistic agency that really made his music stand out and influence the industry.

The Searcher is a refreshing change from the sensationalist biographies that just want to focus on his explosive success and zoom in on his weaknesses. At the same time, it does gloss over some of those darker elements - making it a slightly incomplete biography.

I personally didn't enjoy the artistic effect occasionally used of showing Elvis clips in an empty room, dressed as a household of the 50s, 60s or 70s. I suppose they were supposed to have a pensive or nostalgic effect, but to me they would momentarily drain the energy out of what is mostly a lively documentary.

Part one is the better part, especially because it's where Elvis' deep roots and passion in music are explored, whereas part two is a bit of an awkward dance between acknowledging his decline while also trying to remain full of praise. The whole thing could have likely been cut into a single 2-hour film instead of two 1.5-hour pieces.

All told, this is a great film to connect younger audiences with the historic and magical legacy of Elvis Presley, looking past the surface and the gossip to see a special man.

I didn't know much about Elvis, being a child of the 70s, it was all rather lost on me, sure I knew some of the big ballads and endured the endless films shown on television on Bank Holidays This is an epic film, beautifully made , right from his early life, it's detailed but never boring.The love and affection from the film makers shines through from the start. Elvis was such a humble, kind , funny person. Everything he did was groundbreaking, but has been duplicated so many times by lesser mortals, you've got to remember he was first and best I love the early raw music , those seemed to be the best times for Elvis... if that music was launched today it would stand out as pure class The comeback show was heartbreakingly beautiful, his smiles and laughter, it seemed he proved to himself he could still do it...he could, it was astonishing.The film follows the decline in a tastefully , slightly depressing, way Having sat through to the end I shear a tear at the sad end to a brilliant career. Anybody who is a fan or not or wants to find out more about The King should watch this, it's brilliant filmmaking and paced to perfection... my favourite moment is the duet with Sinatra......it's just so ......Natural