A biographical music drama is an incredibly difficult project to get right. There are a number of reasons for this. For starters, the subject of any given music drama, given the fact that there is sufficient interest in their story to warrant a feature film being made, is likely rather powerful, which makes it challenging to tell an honest story about said star's life. Additionally, it can be difficult to thread the line between discussing an artist's real-life struggles alongside their beloved musical library.
2022's Elvis, which stars Austin Butler (The Dead Don't Die, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) in the titular role, manages to tell a compelling story of a troubled artist while still allowing audiences to feel fully immersed in the King's rocking tunes. The film's director, Baz Luhrmann, and writers were rewarded with good reviews and an impressive box office return.
Elvis doesn't allow the titular King of Rock and Roll to tell his own story. Rather, the film is narrated by Colonel Tom Parker, who is portrayed by a sweaty, fat suit-clad Tom Hanks. Parker was Elvis' business manager for the early part of the star's career and was the cause of much consternation for the at times naive Presley. Here are some of the reasons why Tom Hanks' Colonel Tom Parker is an unreliable narrator in Elvis.
Colonel Tom Parker Is An Unrepentant Former Huckster
From the moment audiences are first introduced to Colonel Tom Parker, it is clear that the character's intentions are anything but pure. Parker is working at a carnival, employing all manner of underhanded tricks to swindle money out of innocent festival-goers in a way reminiscent of the equally sly P.T. Barnum. When he hears Elvis singing on a recording of one of his first singles, Parker sees an opportunity to take advantage of the young singer.
By most accounts, Colonel Parker was every bit the unrepentant, amoral huckster that the film presents him as. He begins the film as a swindler, and there is never a moment in the film that audiences can truly trust Hanks' character. Though Parker clearly, at times, has a certain affinity for Presley, he is never far from returning to his nefarious roots and cannot be trusted to accurately tell the tale of Elvis Presley.
From the Deathbed: The Two Men Meet Very Different Ends
Elvis opens on Colonel Parker after he has already suffered the stroke that will ultimately result in his death. Along with his critical health status, it is also revealed that Parker has long been in the throes of serious gambling addiction and that despite his previous success as Elvis' manager, he is almost penniless.
Though it's often said that there is a lot of reflection to be had at the end of one's life, the simple fact of being sick doesn't change an individual's moral framework. A bitter Colonel might have had a change of heart on his deathbed. Still, it is equally true that Parker, at the end of his life, is forced to grapple with the fact that he is dying alone and penniless, while Elvis, though the singer's death was tragic, died as a historically significant musician.
Colonel Parker’s Constant Attempts to Frame Elvis in a Negative Light
It is apparent throughout the film that Colonel Tom Parker only cares about Elvis Presley so long as he continues to be a cash cow. While it is true that Parker is alright with Elvis being a controversial figure, there are limits to how far Tom Hank's character will allow the rock n' roller to push the envelope.
For example, in the film, Elvis Presley is heartbroken by the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. When he shares this emotion with Parker and expresses an interest in making his songs more political to reflect the turbulent cultural climate of the '60s, Parker is furious and says that Elvis has been "brainwashed by hippies."
Tom Hanks has been considered one of the greatest actors in Hollywood for decades. He has won countless awards for his incredible performances in films such as Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. However, it isn't often that audiences get to see Hanks play the bad guy. His acting abilities undoubtedly qualify him to play a morally reprehensible character. Using Colonel Tom Parker as the narrator for a film about Elvis Presley was a stroke of genius on the part of the filmmakers, as Tom Hank's utterly unlikeable character makes Presley seem all the more charming by comparison.
Colonel Tom Parker is an untrustworthy character, but audiences can trust that Elvis paints an excellent picture of the multifaceted King of Rock and Roll.