EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert: A Film Gang Review

Epic, Elvis Presley in Concert, directed by Baz Lorman, draws from newly uncovered footage

of Elvis's later years performing in Las Vegas for electrified audiences. Lorman meticulously

assembled the film with audio help from Peter Jackson to present these performances from Elvis's

own point of view. One of the documentary's greatest pleasures is watching Elvis rehearse with

his band and backup singers. Their sessions reveal a deep professionalism. They mastered a vast

catalog of songs and could switch instantly depending on the audience's energy. The film also

highlights the wide range of musical influences that shaped Elvis's sound, gospel, R&B,

country, and rock and roll, and is remarkable ability to evolve while staying rooted in those

traditions. The physicality of Elvis's performances is on full display, along with an astonishing

array of costumes. Ace to find the jumpsuits a little silly, but after seeing the sheer athleticism

of his movements, gyrations, karate inspired choreography, and non-stop dancing, it's clear

that ordinary clothing would never have held up. This chemistry among Elvis, his band and his

singers is unmistakable. With a single look or gesture, they moved as one to thrill the audience.

The film offers a refreshing portrait of a fun, hard-working Elvis, rather than focusing solely

on his battles with Colonel Parker or addiction. He comes across as a man of humble origins,

born poor, raised in a Baptist church, and often insecure, who found purpose in performing live

and gave everything he had on stage. If he were alive today, he would have cracked the Taylor Swift

style marketing machine. In many ways, he invented it. It's striking to realize how young Elvis was

during his Las Vegas comeback years. He pierced hand, fit, unlined, and almost mythic. I had just

cut my driver's license when he died, and I still remember hearing the news on the radio that August

I didn't grasp the complexity of his journey then, but Epic makes clear that he was an American

success story who longed to learn, grow, and travel more than he was allowed. Elvis understood

what his audiences needed and delivered it every time. He was a gentleman with genuine empathy,

even as he endured ridicule and constant pressure to be someone other than himself. He

stayed true to his own voice, and I'm grateful this lost footage has resurfaced.

More than once, the music and emotion brought me to tears. I kept wondering what he might have

achieved, and he lived long enough to pursue his dreams on his own terms. For KSQD's film gang,

this is Susan Lovegren.