Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

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Chucky99
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Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Chucky99 »

Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.




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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by brian »

I can't read the review. I will say though that no matter what there is always going to be people that don't like something. You can never please everyone.




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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Chucky99 »

brian on Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:48 am wrote:I can't read the review. I will say though that no matter what there is always going to be people that don't like something. You can never please everyone.
It seems that I can read the review using my phone ,but I can't read it using the laptop or PC.



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jurasic1968
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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by jurasic1968 »

I tried on PC, but it's not working.




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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Chucky99 »

jurasic1968 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:10 am wrote:I tried on PC, but it's not working.

I think You can read it using your smartphone



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by jurasic1968 »

I have an old Samsung with Android. I will try.




Mr. Black

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Mr. Black »

Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
Well, you could say that Elvis was a bit cautious, reserved in some interviews.

That said, f*** John Anderson 8)




King Volcano

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by King Volcano »

Mr. Black on Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:13 am wrote:
Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
.

That said, f*** John Anderson 8)
Yeah, why does Elvis for years and years, get trashed for what so many other music and movie stars get a pass for.... this man’s an idiot.



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by rjm »

To blazes with the WSJ.

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Mr. Black

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Mr. Black »

King Volcano on Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:19 am wrote:
Mr. Black on Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:13 am wrote:
Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
.

That said, f*** John Anderson 8)
Yeah, why does Elvis for years and years, get trashed for what so many other music and movie stars get a pass for.... this man’s an idiot.
Public opinion about Elvis will always be divided. His career was uneven - highs and lows. But from a music critic and journalist you'd expect more nuanced statements.




King Volcano

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by King Volcano »

Mr. Black on Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:38 am wrote:
King Volcano on Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:19 am wrote:
Mr. Black on Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:13 am wrote:
Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
.

That said, f*** John Anderson 8)
Yeah, why does Elvis for years and years, get trashed for what so many other music and movie stars get a pass for.... this man’s an idiot.
Public opinion about Elvis will always be divided. His career was uneven - highs and lows. But from a music critic and journalist you'd expect more nuanced statements.
Yeah, I’ve generally no problem with people not liking or undestanding his music or talent, but to trash him for “rehearsed” interviews... I mean, that has been going on since the dawn of time in Hollywood, in music, in the business world.

It’s like the other stuff.. the drugs, the sometimes questionable decisions he made, the lesser record releases, etc etc.. none of that is uncommon, especially with prolific and unique artists... but Elvis still gets the endlessly out of proportion, naive hammerngs..



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by LesterB »

Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
I can only read the only opening paragraph without subscribing so can only comment on the OP’s outline. Regarding interviews, yes Elvis was mindful of what he said but nevertheless he always sounded genuine - we have loads of 2 to 5 minute interviews from the 50s, some in the 60s and a handful in the 70s to verify this. Regarding all bad songs in the 60s - nonsense - virtually everything from Elvis is Back, the two Gospel albums and the 69 sessions is superb. There also some great songs scattered about the 60s on other albums that are superb too - is there any point in listing these? In addition Elvis also did some covers that surpassed the originals IMO such as Guitar Man and Too much Monkey Business.


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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by jurasic1968 »

And great songs like Big Boss Man, High Heel Sneakers, Clean Up Your Own Backyard and US Male.




poormadpeter2

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by poormadpeter2 »

Nobody managed to get proper answers out if Elvis in interviews. Even the EOT one is filled with leading questions.



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by dannyboy1 »

I DON'T CARE to read any negative review on Elvis. If the writer is a hater and negatively biased to begin with, then whatever he spews out holds not the slightest interest for me. On the other hand, insightful comments are always interesting to read. Regarding the program itself, I haven't seen it yet, but anything that brings a more compassionate, human approach to people's thinking about Elvis is a positive.


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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by FredAistair »

Chucky99 on Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:02 am wrote:Hello everybody.
Elvis the Searcher documentary seems to be a succes in terms of critic reviews with 93 % on RottenTomatoes, with 13 positive/fresh reviews and one negative/rotten.
The Critic John Anderson from the Wall Street Journal claims some very interesting and sort of unflattering things about Elvis:he says that Elvis' answers to questions when he gave interviews seem rehearsed just like a cheap politician or an over rehearsed one.Also he claims that the entire decade of the 60s had bad Elvis songs.Were Reconsider Baby, I feel so bad, Little Sister,His latest flame,A Mess of blues, etc , bad songs???
To me this review was a little bit unflattering and this guy did not get who Elvis was.
This is his review:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elvis-presley-the-searcher-review-looking-for-the-king-1523554522.

Your opinions,thoughts?
Thanks,Chucky.
I would love to e-mail John Anderson and simply say "amazingly Elvis has survived reviews such as your's, explain that."



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Must be a subscriber to read more than the first paragraph. It looks like an excellent review.


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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by mike edwards66 »

Elvis Presley: The Searcher’ Review: Looking for the King


By John Anderson


Are there still Elvis impersonators out there, roaming the landscape? The sense one gets, by the end of HBO’s two-part, three-hour “ Elvis Presley : The Searcher,” is that the best one was Elvis Presley himself. When a documentary is as exhaustive, devoted, formally precise and even magisterial as this one, a viewer can’t help getting distracted by what’s missing. It’s not the film’s fault that what’s missing is Presley.

It was ever thus. In tracing the mostly musical path taken by the so-called King—a simple, modest, instinctively sexy naif of uncanny cultural timing—“Elvis Presley: The Searcher” enlists a variety of very informed voices to annotate Presley’s career arc and music, which was a border-hopping marriage of R&B, country, blues and white gospel. His early recordings, and destiny, were engineered by the legendary Sam Phillips “for a lot of noble reasons,” as someone puts it: American music was segregated to a degree that now seems unimaginable, and Phillips was looking for a way to direct mainstream ears by turning them toward the sources of someone exactly like Presley.

But while the Elvis music dominates all discussion—a discussion that’s highly intelligent—the human is MIA: There’s never a truly candid interview included, because he never seems to have given one. His answers to questions always seem rehearsed; the malignant Colonel Tom Parker (the villain of the piece and of Presley’s career) manipulated his client to his own devious ends, and the Presley who fleetingly appears—offstage—sounds not necessarily like a cheap politician, but an over-rehearsed one. As a musician, Presley always seems to be chasing the self that existed before his still-inexplicable induction into the Army in 1958. (The pre-Army performances will be a revelation to those unfamiliar with his power.) In the famous 1968 “comeback” special on NBC—an event the film returns to repeatedly, and for good reasons—he achieves the kind of self-realization that eluded him during an entire decade of bad songs, worse movies and a marginalization by much of pop America.

A group of A-list Presley acolytes—who, in a masterstroke by director Thom Zimny, are heard but never seen—are generally brilliant. They may be genuflecting en masse, but they also offer crucial insights and include Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris, writers such as Nik Cohn, but most importantly Bruce Springsteen : He’s one of the few people, alive or dead, who could reflect knowingly on the kind of stardom Presley enjoyed and what that level of adoration meant to him as an artist.

Another obvious voice, and perhaps an even more relevant one, would have been Paul McCartney, but the Beatles go virtually unmentioned, despite the fact that they created a moment in pop music from which Presley was sidelined, partly by his own bad decisions, partly by those of Parker. It’s a much more serious omission than, say, Priscilla Presley’s failure to note in her quasi-worshipful narration how old she was when Presley started “courting” her (14); or the neglect of the infamous Elvis-Nixon meeting of 1970; or the edited-out liaison with his “Viva Las Vegas” co-star Ann-Margret, who is mentioned in some detail, none of it romantic. “Elvis Presley: The Searcher” is an art documentary, one supposes, and such things might be considered immaterial, if only the film weren’t so selective otherwise in integrating the personal with the musical
.


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Hard Rocker

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Hard Rocker »

Nice work Mike, thanks for sharing. The writer raises a few valid points somewhat undermined by the snide tone.




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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by Hank »

Shocking--a self-important, New York City-type considers Elvis to be a "simple, modest, instinctively sexy naif". I suppose that's not as bad as Milton Berle's "Keep buy-un them reh-cuds, fowlkes" bit, or Albert Goldman's 600-page Elvis takedown.

Yes, Elvis did have a pronounced Mississippi accent which he consciously neutralized for his television and stage appearances, as he was undoubtedly aware that if he did not, he would be perceived as a yokel, rube, and/or country bumpkin. (Or a hayseed, a clodhopper...you get the idea.) When, for example black celebrities/athletes dial back their natural dialect when speaking in public, formal settings, white people faintly praise them as being "articulate". I suppose saying Elvis sounded "over-rehearsed" isn't as patronizing as saying he sounded "articulate", but still.

Finally--knocking the documentary for not delving into Elvis' sex life is debatable at best; knocking it for Paul McCartney's non-participation is downright weird. I haven't seen a full list of interviewees for this documentary, but why McCartney? Hell, Bob Dylan greatly admired Elvis, and as such is an "obvious" choice for inclusion who could added some "relevant" insight, But he didn't. And the point is...?



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by EPA4368 »

Thanks for posting the full article, Mike.

I'll agree with having Paul McCartney and regarding the Elvis-Nixon meeting, don't see any reason to it bring up due to the documentary format. Maybe its why they didn't have Ringo, because he probably would've wanted to bring up, the Elvis-Nixon meeting.



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by mike edwards66 »

You're welcome, guys. The reviewer does raise an interesting point: the Beatles go virtually unmentioned.

Thom Zimny is clearly on-message. Elvis was unaffected by the Beatles, unaffected by the British Invasion. When they, the Beatles and the Invasion, happened, Elvis (and the Colonel) had already plotted their course thru the 60s.

And that course was not changed one little bit by the arrival of 4 guys with matching haircuts, matching suits, singing in American accents.


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poormadpeter2

Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by poormadpeter2 »

Hank on Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:23 pm wrote:Shocking--a self-important, New York City-type considers Elvis to be a "simple, modest, instinctively sexy naif". I suppose that's not as bad as Milton Berle's "Keep buy-un them reh-cuds, fowlkes" bit, or Albert Goldman's 600-page Elvis takedown.

Yes, Elvis did have a pronounced Mississippi accent which he consciously neutralized for his television and stage appearances, as he was undoubtedly aware that if he did not, he would be perceived as a yokel, rube, and/or country bumpkin. (Or a hayseed, a clodhopper...you get the idea.) When, for example black celebrities/athletes dial back their natural dialect when speaking in public, formal settings, white people faintly praise them as being "articulate". I suppose saying Elvis sounded "over-rehearsed" isn't as patronizing as saying he sounded "articulate", but still.

Finally--knocking the documentary for not delving into Elvis' sex life is debatable at best; knocking it for Paul McCartney's non-participation is downright weird. I haven't seen a full list of interviewees for this documentary, but why McCartney? Hell, Bob Dylan greatly admired Elvis, and as such is an "obvious" choice for inclusion who could added some "relevant" insight, But he didn't. And the point is...?
I don't think it's incorrect to call any of those things. He was a simple man at heart, certainly modest in most respects, and the remarkably naive as some of his decisions during his career show us. I don't see where they are insults. By "simple" he isn't saying he was stupid. And I don't see where the article knocks the documentary for not delving into Elvis sex-life, although seeing a 14 year old certainly demonstrates that naivety of how that could be perceived. But he's right - there isn't a genuine interview with Elvis anywhere that has him unguarded and talking openly. The EOT interview doesn't provide that - just a series of loaded questions which, when edited out, make it sound like Elvis is talking candidly. But he's not really. He's being fed answers in the questions.




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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by sweetangeline »

Hard Rocker wrote:Mike's one of the good guys and he brings a lot to this forum,
...it begs the question...where does that land you?? :lol:



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Re: Unflattering Review on Elvis The Searcher

Post by mike edwards66 »

sweetangeline wrote:
Hard Rocker wrote:Mike's one of the good guys and he brings a lot to this forum,
...it begs the question...where does that land you?? :lol:
You know nothing of my work.


drjohncarpenter on Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:43 pm wrote:
mike edwards66 on Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:26 pm wrote:You're welcome, guys. The reviewer does raise an interesting point: the Beatles go virtually unmentioned.

Thom Zimny is clearly on-message. Elvis was unaffected by the Beatles, unaffected by the British Invasion. When they, the Beatles and the Invasion, happened, Elvis (and the Colonel) had already plotted their course thru the 60s.

And that course was not changed one little bit by the arrival of 4 guys with matching haircuts, matching suits, singing in American accents.
You excel at untruth, your forum contributions are a testimony to this skill.

You really don't like the greatest rock 'n' roll group of all time. That's nice. You know who did? Elvis Presley. He was so affected, he recorded, rehearsed, performed and released several of their hits.

Hey Jude
Yesterday
I Saw Her Standing There
Something
Get Back
Lady Madonna


And all of this after he invited to his home for a get-together, something he never did for any other rock 'n' roll group.

Elvis was very much affected by the British Invasion. I'd say more, but you have proven it's a waste of everyone's time.

Such desperation. You sing an old tune around here, but trolling is your mode of transportation, so carry on.
Touched a nerve there, forum friend? It clearly bugs you that Thom Zimny, with all his gravitas, virtually ignored the Beatles in the Elvis story.


drjohncarpenter on Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:43 pm wrote:Elvis was very much affected by the British Invasion.
Was he? What EXACTLY did he do different once the 4 guys with matching haircuts, matching suits, singing in American accents arrived?


>>>


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