ELVIS (Cert 12, 160 mins, Warner Bros Home Entertainment, Drama/Musical/Romance, available now via Premium Video On Demand rental, available from September 19 on Amazon/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, also available from September 19 on DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £26.99/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray £34.99)
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Alton Mason, Richard Roxburgh, Helen Thomson, Chaydon Jay.
AS A boy, Elvis Presley (Chaydon Jay) is intoxicated by gospel church music. He feels the spirit of a pastor, who proclaims, "When things are too dangerous to say, sing!"
Blossoming into a hip-swivelling performer, Elvis (now played by Austin Butler) takes this sermon to heart. He witnesses America's bitter racial divisions while continuing to publicly support performers such as BB King (Kelvin Harrison Jr) and Little Richard (Alton Mason).
Elvis falls under the spell of Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge) and builds a home at Graceland for his parents Vernon (Richard Roxburgh) and Gladys (Helen Thomson).
However, manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) exerts a vice-like grip over his star asset and Elvis must choose between fame and family.
Wise men say, only fools rush in. Australian director Baz Luhrmann sings from the same hymn sheet because his visually extravagant biopic of Elvis Presley has a whole lotta shakin' goin' on with more than two-and-a-half hours of breathlessly choreographed musical performances, impeccable costume design and nostalgia-drenched spectacle.
Glimpsing Presley's story from Parker's perspective creates a narrative tug of war between the film's most emotionally complex and colourful characters.
The script can't satisfyingly resolve that conflict – even with a luxurious 160-minute running time.
Suspicious minds won't be soothed.
Butler delivers a scintillating, sexually charged performance as the jump-suited showman from Tupelo, Mississippi.
You can't help falling in love with his sweat-soaked embodiment of a socially conscious showman who believed in lending his voice to the youth of the era and effecting change through music.
RATING: 4/5
ANDOR (12 episodes, starts streaming from September 21 exclusively on Disney+, Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure/Thriller)
IN 2016, director Gareth Edwards' sci-fi blockbuster Rogue One: A Star Wars Story introduced rebel captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to a galaxy far, far away.
The action-packed prequel to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope followed Cassian and his allies as they launched a daring mission to steal the schematics for the Death Star and strike a fatal blow to the Galactic Empire.
Created by the film's co-writer Tony Gilroy, Andor rewinds five years from Rogue One to delve into the formative years of the rebellion and the title character's transformation into a passionate crusader.
Haunted by the destruction of his home world, resourceful thief Cassian (Luna) is surviving hand to mouth in desperately dark times.
He resists striking back against the Empire but Cassian's path intersects with politician Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly).
The powerful senator is secretly building the foundations of an underground rebellion to oppose the Emperor and his despicable collaborators.
A natural leader like Cassian would be a valuable addition to the rebels' ranks.
The first three episodes emerge from lightspeed this week with further instalments arriving on Wednesdays.
