So well crafted to almost completely remove the allure of Elvis and show as true a depiction of Priscilla’s experience as possible. The noticeable desaturation detracts the glamour from even the most glittering sequences in Vegas and never sways from the central focus despite the smiles and intermittent moments of apparent happiness. When they’re walking together, your eyes are drawn to her, not the 6 foot 5 Elvis who has fans flocking at his feet - to create this whilst giving a true and genuine showing of Elvis and his stardom is amazing. 

Alongside the persistent more subtle resemblances of the power dynamic (the height difference, the body language), you get the gut punches of Priscilla’s sweet 16 cards and, after about an hour of run time and years of their relationship, she finally graduates high school… 

Alongside this critical view of Elvis, it doesn’t over dramatise the showing of his faults or overtly direct hatred towards him. It also shows the role of the industry and how this inflicts suffering on Elvis himself, which in turn translates to further suffering for Priscilla in a viscous cycle. To acknowledge and criticise Elvis and his actions and simultaneously show the major downfalls of fame and the demands of being a star is a fine balance that it gets right.  

I think the opening act is definitely the best and feels the most intimate to Priscilla due to the more prolonged period we spend on a smaller section of time in her life. The later years where time passes faster and you’re left with snippets of conversations are less engaging and immersive but still never departs from the hollow feeling that comes with this relationship. 

Given the amazing performances of both Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, Sofia Coppola’s direction, the makeup and costume design, the academy’s love for a biopic (which is actually done right on this occasion with influence and production from Priscilla herself), and even the music too, I’m surprised this didn’t receive a single Oscar nomination.