‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ is a celebration fit for a King

Elvis died in 1977, but he never went away. Over the years, countless attempts have been made to resurrect the King, whether it was movies, TV specials or musical ventures celebrating his artistry and legacy, attempting to bring him back and keep him among us.

No single project has done a better job of making Elvis feel present and alive than “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” director Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling documentary-slash-concert film, which lets us see and feel Elvis on stage, in his element. It’s a pure joy to see, to feel, to behold, as Elvis tells his story, in his own words, and hits the stage to let us bask in his greatness. The movie, meanwhile, helps to reclaim Elvis as a singular force of nature, an otherworldly dynamo, not the parody of himself with which we’ve come to associate his Vegas years.

Luhrmann — who also directed 2022’s “Elvis,” his hyperactive Elvis biopic — culls “EPiC” from footage he unearthed during the making of the film. That included long-buried footage recovered from the Elvis estate, which was then painstakingly restored to its original grandeur. Through that footage, Luhrmann manages to tell Elvis’ story more directly and succinctly than he did in “Elvis.” Of course that movie, which starred Austin Butler as Presley, would have been disingenuous had it only focused on the highs and not told his full story. But with that business out of the way, “EPiC” is allowed to fix strictly on celebrating Elvis, without getting into the lows of his story.

“EPiC” is just the good stuff. And the good stuff is great, phenomenal even. After breezing through his early years in his signature style of excess — quick cuts, flashy edits — Luhrmann gets to Las Vegas in 1969, where Elvis is taking the stage at the International Hotel, footage seen in 1970’s “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is.”

These scenes are intercut with footage from 1972’s “Elvis on Tour” as well as backstage moments, rehearsal footage, home movies and various other found sources. We not only see Elvis performing, but we hear him talk about performing and the joy he gets from being on stage in front of audiences. (He also laments his movie career and the sameness of the productions, which Luhrmann presents in supercut form.)

There are some telling edits along the way: As Elvis performs “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise,” footage focuses on his controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and “Always On My Mind” is interlaced with scenes of a young Lisa Marie, crawling on the floor at Graceland.

The performance scenes are electrifying, Elvis pouring in sweat and leading his band through renditions of “Burning Love” and “Suspicious Minds” and daring them to keep up with him. In his white jumpsuit, he’s all hip thrusts, waving arms and karate kicks, and his bandmates and backup singers all seem in awe of him, while also staying sharp and on their toes because they’re never sure what he’s going to do next.

Elvis hops into the crowd and is mobbed by female fans, many of whom he plants with big kisses on the mouth, something today’s stars would not dare do, and for good reason. There’s a transportive nature to the footage, which is presented in bright, bold, daring color and soundtracked with booming audio. (“EPiC” is worth seeing on the biggest, best screen possible, and is getting a one-week IMAX-exclusive run before opening wider on Feb. 27.)

Elvis talks at length about his sound as an amalgam of country music, gospel and R&B, and there’s newly restored footage of him singing the gospel standard “Oh Happy Day.” He also makes his way through the Beatles’ “Get Back,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” spinning those classics through his own buttery, southern-fried vocal tone, still in prime form here.

“EPiC” is a work of deep reverence and affection; Luhrmann wants audiences to feel what he feels from Elvis, and it comes bursting through the screen. This is Elvis the performer, the legend, and it’s a beautiful portrait of a towering figure. “People can stay home and hear you sing,” Elvis says early in the film, explaining how if fans come out to see you, “they want a show.” The thrilling “EPiC” puts on a show viewers won’t soon forget.

Tribune News Service