Finding Graceland

Starring:Harvey Keitel, Johnathon Schaech, Bridget Fonda, Gretchen Mol, John Aylward, Susan Traylor, Tammy Isbell, Peggy Gormley, Trae Thomas, David Stewart, Ken Schatz, Gene Kirkwood, George Klein, Joe Stronski, Peter DeMaio, Louis Velez, Corey Sosner, Connie Freeman, Holly Farris, Kyra Feldman
Director: David Winkler
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

As this lonelyhearts fest begins, guilt-ridden young widower Byron (Johnathon Schaech) picks up hitchhiker Elvis, who is either the aging, regretful real thing or a sadly deluded impersonator. Director David Winkler plays the "is he or isn't he?" game for most of the movie, which is essentially a road trip to Memphis. Meanwhile, he allows Byron's story to unfold and introduces him to a Marilyn Monroe mimic (Bridget Fonda) with both a heart and dress of gold. As usual, Fonda is good, and Keitel gives an interesting portrayal of a soft-spoken southern mama's boy gone to seed. In the film's centerpiece performance, Keitel dons full Vegas-era Elvis regalia and belts out a rousing version of "Suspicious Minds." Unfortunately, Schaech turns in a rather wooden performance in the lead role. Priscilla Presley gets an executive producer credit, making for authentic shots in and around Graceland. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews:

Great overall film for everyone.......2007-03-08

This movie has something for everyone even if you're not an Elvis fan. It has great acting, a good story, mystery and laughs. Although I think it works best for anyone that at least likes Elvis Presley.

Disappointing.......2004-08-13

I just bought this movie as it looked good and I love Harvey Keitel and Bridget Fonda. But is it just me or is the acting really, really bad? It seems like a B movie. There's nothing particularly compelling about it in any way. I'm not an Elvis fan but I don't think the writer/directors wanted to find somebody who resembled Elvis to play the part. I don't think that was the point at all. Anyway, I still haven't decided if I can watch it drone on any longer! I don't recommend this movie. If you haven't seen Freeway with Keifer Sutherland and Reese Witherspoon; rent it..it's an older one that was overlooked but it's extremely entertaining!

Elvis is still "Taking Care of Business".......2004-04-11

This is one amazing little gem of a movie. It came and went without much fanfare, but a lot of movies worth seeing do that. They can't all be blockbusters.

Harvey Keitel as "Elvis" only goes to show the genius of Keitel the actor and the man. The exterior of Keitel's character believes he's Elvis up to a point, the interior knows there is something spiritual inhabiting his very being. That spirit could very well be the real spirit of Elvis who has come back to earth to right a few wrongs and continue to change lives.

Keitel was never meant to look, talk, act, or sing like Elvis. That's the beauty of it all. Where Keitel becomes Elvis is how he interacts with the people he meets and leaves them uplifted.

Bridget Fonda plays a sweet young woman who impersonates Marilyn Monroe for a living, mostly in Vegas, but sometimes traveling around the casino circuit. At Robinsonville, Mississippi's Hollywood Casino (yes, these places are real), she meets Keitel and the emotionally shattered Johnathon Schaech, still mourning the death of his young wife from a year ago.

Eventually, all make it to Memphis only a few miles from the Hollywood Casino where the spirit of Elvis also lives in his home and grounds known as Graceland. This is a film authorized by the Presley Estate, so the viewer will get to see the real interior of Graceland from angles that tourists don't get to see.

This movie will make most viewers laugh and cry. There's a little something here for everyone. In fact you don't even have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this film. I recommend it highly.

Spiritually Uplifting.......2003-05-24

A great film from start to finish. But, where's the soundtrack???

You Got To Have Heart........2002-10-29

Harvey Keitel stars in this film as Elvis Presley. Yes, Harvey Keitel as Elvis. Or at least the character he plays thinks he's Elvis. Now, I know that Keitel doesn't look anything like The King. However, that's part of the charm of this movie; how a man who doesn't look anything like Elvis can embody his soul and spirit so perfectly.

The film has a mix of both wonderful and wooden acting performances, and the plot is decent, but not very tight. However, seeing Keitel singing "Suspicious Minds" dressed as The King is worth some of the other dribble you will find here. The soundtrack is great as is the footage filmed from inside Graceland.

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