Reviewers all shook up as Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis wins fans

Sin city underwent a rock ’n’ roll conversion on Sunday as the star-studded cast of Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis, attended a special screening of the hotly anticipated film.

Tom Hanks on the red carpet for the premiere of Elvis at the State Theatre, Sydney, Australia. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Sin city underwent a rock ’n’ roll conversion on Sunday as the star-studded cast of Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis, attended a special screening of the hotly anticipated film.

Starring Austin Butler as Elvis and Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the film charts the rhinestone-clad performer’s rise to superstardom against the evolving cultural landscape of America during the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

Fast-rising Australian talent Olivia DeJonge who plays Priscilla Presley, joined her castmates on the sparkling ruby-red carpet for the event co-presented by Destination NSW and Vogue Australia ahead of the film’s Australian release on June 23.

Arriving at Sydney’s State Theatre, where Elvis will also screen as part of the Sydney Film Festival next week, Luhrmann soaked up the moment as he leapt out of his car and – borrowing a few dance moves from the King – boogied over to sign autographs for a cheering crowd lined up behind barricades since lunchtime.

“You know, when I was like 20, I would save up my money and go to the film festival at the State Theatre, I used to like rug up, I’d have my Thermos and see 300 movies,” Luhrmann told Vogue Australia on the red carpet.

Elvis stars Olivia DeJonge and Austin Butler.

“So coming across the Bridge, and traipsing into town was a grand adventure for me, and it was an adventure that never stopped. So it’s only sensible that I should be back here where it all began.”

A beaming Hanks drew a huge roar from the crowd as he waved non-stop while strolling the red carpet.

The young stars dressed for the period, with Butler in a chocolate-brown Gucci suit with flared trousers and DeJonge ethereal in a pale pink backless custom Prada dress with hair the only way the era knew how – big.

Responding to the joyous crowd, Butler said: “That’s so surreal. It’s wild. I can’t believe they know my name.”

It’s the latest stop in the Elvis road trip, following its local premiere on Saturday on the Gold Coast where most of the film was shot and produced, and a world premiere at Cannes, where it managed to steal the show despite a string of high-profile offerings during the 75th anniversary year of the film festival last month.

Early reviews suggest the film, essentially a love letter to the King, is poised to become a mainstream hit for the Australian director.

The Times declared Elvis Luhrmann’s best film since Romeo + Juliet.