EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT (Australia/USA, 2026, 96m, 12) ***½
Music, Documentary
dist. Universal Pictures; pr co. Authentic Studios / Bazmark Films.
d. Baz Luhrmann; pr. Jeremy Castro, Matthew Gross, Baz Luhrmann, Colin Smeeton, Schuyler Weiss; m sup/ed. Jamieson Shaw; ed. Jonathan Redmond.
cast. Elvis Presley.
Baz Luhrmann has restored and compiled footage of Elvis in concert in Las Vegas and on tour in North America between 1970 and 1972. The material is largely drawn from unused footage from the concert films Elvis: That’s the Way It Is and Elvis on Tour, and it is claimed 80% of it has never been seen before. The restoration work is wonderful, managing to capture the raw energy of Elvis’ performances, the dynamism of his band, and the hysteria in his audience. Mixed in with this concert footage are montage sequences tracing Presley’s career, as well as sound clips from an interview in which Elvis discusses his life. The result is both captivating and frustrating. The documentary element provides a brief overview of Presley’s career, but lacks insight and depth. The concert footage feels fragmented, cutting between performances and rehearsals and mostly playing only segments of songs. What is undeniable, however, is that Luhrmann captures Presley’s charisma, sense of fun, and commitment to the performance. As such, the film serves as an entertaining record of Elvis’ re-invention and the hold he had over his enormous fan base.
