Elvis & Nixon

Last updated

Elvis & Nixon
Elvis & Nixon poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Liza Johnson
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Terry Stacey
Edited byMichael Taylor
Sabine Hoffman
Music by Ed Shearmur
Production
companies
  • Autumn Productions
  • Elevated Films
  • Holly Wiersma Productions
  • Johnny Mac & David Hansen Productions
  • Benaroya Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • April 18, 2016 (2016-04-18)(Tribeca)
  • April 22, 2016 (2016-04-22)(United States)
Running time
86 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9.8 million [2]
Box office$1.8 million [3]

Elvis & Nixon is a 2016 American comedy-drama film directed by Liza Johnson and written by Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal, and Cary Elwes. The film stars Michael Shannon as singer Elvis Presley and Kevin Spacey as President Richard Nixon, and focuses on the December 21, 1970, meeting between the two men at the White House. The film also stars Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, and Evan Peters. The film was released on April 22, 2016, by Amazon Studios and Bleecker Street. [4]

Contents

Plot

On the morning of December 21, 1970, actor-singer Elvis Presley arrives at the White House and requests an urgent meeting with President Richard Nixon. Presley opposes the drug culture, the hippie movement, SDS, and the Black Panther Party; he wants Nixon to swear him in as an undercover agent in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. [5] [6]

Two of Nixon's senior aides, Dwight Chapin and Egil Krogh, set up a meeting between the two men. At first, Nixon is annoyed by what he sees as a PR stunt, but over the course of the meeting finds that they have much in common: they are both self-made men who came from humble beginnings and worked hard for their success, and they both feel unappreciated by an American culture they no longer understand.

They pose for an iconic photograph and part on good terms.

Cast

Production

Nixon and Presley in the Oval Office on December 21, 1970. Elvis-nixon.jpg
Nixon and Presley in the Oval Office on December 21, 1970.

On November 5, 2014, it was announced that Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon signed on to portray Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley respectively in a feature film entitled Elvis & Nixon, written by Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal and Cary Elwes, about the pair's famous meeting at the White House in 1970. [5] On November 11, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions brought the film to the market. [7] On January 16, 2015, five actors joined the cast, including Colin Hanks, Johnny Knoxville, Alex Pettyfer, Tracy Letts and Sky Ferreira. [8] Pettyfer plays Elvis' best friend Jerry Schilling, who goes to Washington, D.C., with him, Hanks plays Egil Krogh, lawyer and official of President's administration, Knoxville plays Elvis' head of security, while Ferreira plays Jerry's love interest. [8] On February 4, four more cast members included Ashley Benson, Tate Donovan, Poppy Delevingne, and Dylan Penn. [9] Benson plays an American Airlines worker, Donovan plays White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman, Delevingne plays a stewardess flying with Elvis to D.C., while Penn would be playing a hotel worker. [9]

Principal photography began on January 12, 2015, in New Orleans, Louisiana. [10] [11] The filming also took place in Shreveport, Louisiana and Los Angeles, California. [12]

Co-writer Joey Sagal who has previously played Elvis Presley as an actor on stage, and in films and television, had in his childhood met Presley when his father — Boris Sagal — directed Presley in 1965's Girl Happy . [13]

Release

On November 11, 2014, it was announced that Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions had acquired most distribution rights outside of the United States, with other territories going to companies such as Entertainment One for Australia and the United Kingdom. [14] On June 23, 2015, it was announced Amazon Studios had acquired the film for $4 million, the film marked their first official film acquisition. Bleecker Street would release the film theatrically prior to the film being released on Amazon. [15] The film was presented at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival in March 2016. [16] The film was released in the United States on April 22, 2016, 22 years to the day of Nixon's death. [4] The film was released in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2016. [17]

Reception

Box office

Elvis & Nixon has grossed $1.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $711,419 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.8 million, sales of its DVD/Blu-ray releases have cashed $173,101, [3] against a production budget of $4 million. [18]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film has a rating of 77% based on 151 reviews and an average rating of 6.48/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Elvis & Nixon may not do much to expand on its absurdly iconic photographic source material, but it's rarely less than engaging thanks to its talented starring duo." [19] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 59 out of 100 based on 37 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [20]

Radio Times gave the film an average review but praised the acting: "Michael Shannon is an enjoyably left-field choice for a jaded, increasingly alienated Presley; he’s grown weary of the persona he has to tiresomely maintain, seems to be losing the plot, and yet still creates a stir wherever he treads. Assigned less screen time, Nixon is a more enigmatic figure: gruff, stubborn, and played to perfection by Kevin Spacey. ... Shannon and Spacey are a hoot in an entertaining if unenlightening effort". [21] Flickering Myth enjoyed the film: “Elvis & Nixon is an entirely pleasant 86 minutes in the cinema – entertaining, humorous and well-made, albeit somewhat forgettable. Also, it’s further proof that a female director can harness the energy of two top male thespians portraying macho men.” [22] What's Worth Seeing also liked the film, writing: "With Michael Shannon as the gun-toting rock-and-roll star and Kevin Spacey as the President, more famous for his downfall a couple of years ahead, director Liza Johnson delivers an unexpectedly sharp, funny and zippy real-life tale of absurdity which would have been surreal beyond measure for everyone involved – except for The King himself." [23] Nigel M. Smith of The Guardian called the film “a breezy comedy nimbly directed” and wrote: "Given that the film is about two of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century, clearly casting is key to its success. Luckily, Johnson hit the jackpot by getting Michael Shannon on board as the King and Kevin Spacey to play the corrupt president." [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cary Elwes</span> English actor (born 1962)

Ivan Simon Cary Elwes is an English actor. He starred as Westley in The Princess Bride (1987), and also had lead roles in films such as Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) and the Saw series. The accolades he has received include nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Satellite Awards. Elwes' other performances in films include Glory (1989), Days of Thunder (1990), Hot Shots! (1991), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Twister (1996), Kiss the Girls (1997), Liar Liar (1997), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), The Cat's Meow (2001), Ella Enchanted (2004), Pope John Paul II (2005), No Strings Attached (2011), BlackBerry, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), Resistance:1942 (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Spacey</span> American actor (born 1959)

Kevin Spacey Fowler is an American actor. Known for his work on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and two Laurence Olivier Awards as well as nominations for 12 Emmy Awards. Spacey was named an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Keough</span> American actress (born 1989)

Danielle Riley Keough is an American actress and the eldest grandchild of Elvis Presley. She made her feature film debut in a supporting part in the musical biopic The Runaways (2010), portraying Marie Currie. Keough subsequently starred in the independent thriller The Good Doctor (2011), before being cast in a minor role in Steven Soderbergh's comedy film Magic Mike (2012). She had her first big-budget release in the action feature Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egil Krogh</span> American lawyer involved in the Watergate scandal

Egil "Bud" Krogh Jr. was an American lawyer who became infamous as an official of the Nixon administration and who was imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. He was a Senior Fellow on Ethics and Leadership at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and Counselor to the Director at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership.

<i>Elvis Meets Nixon</i> 1997 film

Elvis Meets Nixon is a 1997 Canadian-American mockumentary film directed by Allan Arkush and starring Rick Peters, Bob Gunton, and Alyson Court. It is an embellished account of the true story of American singer Elvis Presley meeting President Richard Nixon on December 21, 1970.

<i>Girls! Girls! Girls!</i> 1962 film

Girls! Girls! Girls! is a 1962 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley as a penniless Hawaii-based fisherman who loves his life on the sea and dreams of owning his own boat. "Return to Sender", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard pop singles chart, is featured in the film. The film peaked at #6 on the Variety box office chart and finished the year at #19 on the year-end list of the top-grossing films of 1962, having earned $2.6 million at the box office. It was also nominated for the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture - Musical in 1963.

<i>Live a Little, Love a Little</i> 1968 film by Norman Taurog

Live a Little, Love a Little is a 1968 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was directed by Norman Taurog, who had directed several previous Presley films. This was to be Taurog's final film, as he went blind shortly after production ended. Presley shares the screen with fellow legendary singing idol Rudy Vallée, whose career dated to the 1920s, but Vallee, in his late 60s, did not sing in the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Benson</span> American actress (born 1989)

Ashley Victoria Benson is an American actress and singer. Her accolades include four Teen Choice Awards, a Young Hollywood Award, as well as three People's Choice Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Pettyfer</span> English actor and model (born 1990)

Alexander Richard Pettyfer is an English actor and model. He appeared in school plays and on television before being cast as Alex Rider, the main character in the 2006 film version of Stormbreaker. Pettyfer was nominated for a Young Artist Award and an Empire Award for his role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor</span>

The Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor is an award presented by the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Shannon</span> American actor

Michael Corbett Shannon is an American actor. Shannon received two Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations, for Revolutionary Road (2008), and Nocturnal Animals (2016). He received Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for his role in 99 Homes (2014).

<i>Elvis on Tour</i> 1972 film by Robert Abel

Elvis on Tour is a 1972 American concert film starring Elvis Presley during his fifteen-city spring tour earlier that year. It is written, produced, directed by Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

<i>Elvis Is Back!</i> 1960 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis Is Back! is the fourth studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released on April 8, 1960 by RCA Victor. It was Presley's first album of new material since 1958's King Creole soundtrack, as well as his first to be recorded and released in stereophonic sound. The album marked Presley's return to music after his discharge from the U.S. Army.

<i>His Hand in Mine</i> 1960 studio album by Elvis Presley

His Hand in Mine is the fifth studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on November 23, 1960 by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, catalog number LPM/LSP 2328. It was the first of three gospel albums that Presley would issue during his lifetime. Recording sessions took place on October 30 and 31, 1960, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. It peaked at #13 on the Top Pop Albums chart. It was certified Gold on April 9, 1969 and Platinum on March 27, 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Blue Hawaii</i> (soundtrack) 1961 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Blue Hawaii is the fourth soundtrack album by the American singer Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2426, on October 20, 1961. It is the soundtrack to the 1961 film of the same name starring Presley. In the United States, the album spent 20 weeks at the number one slot and 39 weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Pop LPs chart. It was certified Gold on December 21, 1961, Platinum and 2× Platinum on March 27, 1992, and 3× Platinum on July 30, 2002, by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the UK, the album spent 18 weeks at no. 1 on the Record Retailers (RR) album chart. On the US Top Pop Albums chart, Blue Hawaii is second only to the soundtrack of West Side Story as the most successful soundtrack album of the 1960s.

<i>Speedway</i> (soundtrack) 1968 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Speedway is the seventeenth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3989, on June 25, 1968. It serves as the soundtrack album for the 1968 film Speedway starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in Hollywood, California, on June 20 and 21, 1967. It peaked at number 82 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Penn</span> American model and actress

Dylan Frances Penn is an American model and actress. She is the daughter of Sean Penn and Robin Wright. Her early public roles included modeling campaigns for Gap Inc., a magazine cover for treats!, a music video appearance in Nick Jonas's "Chains" and an acting role in Elvis & Nixon.

Joseph B. Sagal is an American actor and screenwriter. He is the son of film director Boris Sagal.

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, has inspired or been portrayed in numerous cultural works.

<i>Elvis</i> (2022 film) Film by Baz Luhrmann

Elvis is a 2022 epic biographical drama film co-produced and directed by Baz Luhrmann, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce, and Jeremy Doner. It chronicles the life of the American rock and roll singer and actor Elvis Presley under the management of Colonel Tom Parker. It stars Austin Butler and Tom Hanks as Presley and Parker, respectively, with Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Luke Bracey in supporting roles.

References

  1. ↑ "ELVIS & NIXON (15)". British Board of Film Classification . March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Initial Certification Search" (Type "Elvis" in the search box). Fastlane NextGen. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Elvis & Nixon (2016)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Goldberg, Matt (January 8, 2016). "Elvis & Nixon' Trailer Has Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey Hiding Guns and Slapping Knuckles". Collider.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Yamato, Jen (November 5, 2014). "'Elvis & Nixon' Sets Kevin Spacey & Michael Shannon In Tale Of Historic White House Hangout – AFM". Deadline. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ McClintock, Pamela; Ford, Rebecca (February 4, 2015). "Berlin: See Kevin Spacey as Nixon in First 'Elvis & Nixon' Photo (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ MboricNary, Dave (November 11, 2014). "AFM: Kevin Spacey-Michael Shannon's 'Elvis and Nixon' Bought in Key Markets by Sony". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Reilly, Travis (January 16, 2015). "Colin Hanks, Johnny Knoxville, Alex Pettyfer Added to 'Elvis & Nixon'". The Wrap. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Kit, Borys (February 4, 2015). "'Pretty Little Liars' Star Ashley Benson Joins Kevin Spacey in 'Elvis & Nixon' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ "On the Set for 1/19/15: Kevin Spacey Starrer Elvis & Nixon Begins Shooting, Director Joel Edgerton Starts on Blumhouse Film & More". SSN Insider. January 19, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ "January 12, Louisiana Entertainment Jobs Hotline". Celtic Media Centre. January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ McGuire, Jordan (February 5, 2015). "FIRST LOOK: 'Elvis & Nixon'". Scene Magazine. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Episode 43: Nixon & Nixon". www.soapboxoffice.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ Yamato, Jen (November 11, 2014). "Sony Loves 'Elvis & Nixon' Tender, Leads Strong International Sales – AFM".
  15. ↑ Jaafar, Ali (June 23, 2015). "Amazon Acquiring 'Elvis & Nixon' In Groundbreaking Deal; Partnering With Bleecker Street For Theatrical Release".
  16. ↑ Debruge, Peter (March 29, 2016). "Tribeca Film Review: 'Elvis & Nixon'". Variety.com. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  17. ↑ Hunter, Craig (January 8, 2016). "First ELVIS & NIXON Poster Teases The Meeting Of The King & The Crook". ScreenRelish.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "ELVIS & NIXON Analysis". DreameGGs Funding Club. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Elvis & Nixon (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Elvis & Nixon Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  21. ↑ Emma Simmonds. "Elvis & Nixon review: "an entertaining if unenlightening effort"". RadioTimes. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  22. ↑ Sara Hemrajani (June 16, 2016). "Movie Review – Elvis & Nixon (2016)". Flickering Myth. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  23. ↑ Jason, Korsner (June 15, 2016). "Elvis & Nixon – Competition". Elvis & Nixon - Competition. What's Worth Seeing.
  24. ↑ Nigel M Smith (April 18, 2016). "Elvis & Nixon review: Michael Shannon resurrects the King". The Guardian. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.