skjeffrey
Joined Aug 2013
Welcome to the new profile
Our updates are still in development. While the previous version of the profile is no longer accessible, we're actively working on improvements, and some of the missing features will be returning soon! Stay tuned for their return. In the meantime, the Ratings Analysis is still available on our iOS and Android apps, found on the profile page. To view your Rating Distribution(s) by Year and Genre, please refer to our new Help guide.
Badges2
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Reviews21
skjeffrey's rating
Fabulous photography and scenery. Plot is a bit silly but Gina Lollabrigida is gorgeous and engaging. The 'Sausalito girls' are cute as well. Rock Hudson plays a wealthy conservative American trying to navigate an Italian romance convincingly (despite knowing his orientation after the fact). Movie opens with an airport scene of a rare Bristol Freighter. The chicken truck 'rental' scene is hilarious. Bobby Darin sings a nifty number in a night club where people are classily dressed in 1960s style. Subplot with Gina engaged to a stuffy Brit adds some laughs. Rock Hudson's villa being secretly rented out foretells the era of VRBO and AirBnB!
The Hidden has a great blend of action, believability and strangeness. I'm not a big fan of movie violence but this film draws in the viewer with good pacing, a simple but slightly twisted plot and fine acting.
This movie had a number of interwoven themes and messages of varying importance. First and foremost, that Col. Tom Parker was a manipulating crook. Secondly, that American Black music and culture had a major influence on Elvis. This particular theme is highly exaggerated, to the exclusion of other Presley influences such as Gospel and country music. I found it highly doubtful that B. B. King was that important a confidant to Elvis. The scene of 12 year old Elvis having some transcendent spiritual experience in a Black revival tent was bizarre and unbelievable. The entire film is filled with exaggerations and possibly outright fiction to make various points and keep the audience superficially entertained. Among other things, the people who didn't care for Presley's gyrating performance style are portrayed as repressed racist rubes. Hank Snow, who was probably a huge influence on Elvis came across as a boring uptight jerk, when in reality Snow was anything but.
On the positive side, the costuming, set design, and cinematography were top notch. Austin Butler did a fine job as Elvis; he nailed the voice and accent. Tom Hanks gave a decently nuanced performance of Col. Parker. It may have been intended for him to be the bad guy, but I didn't hate the character.
However I was relieved when Elvis' mother died in movie so we didn't have to endure another of their on screen arguments. Did Parker and Presley actually negotiate their relationship in a house of mirrors and on a ferris wheel? Unlikely.
The 1960s civil rights struggle permeates the film unnecessarily. For some reason the assassinations of ML King and Robert Kennedy are involved in the movie. Bizarrely, the Kennedy death which took place in June 1968 is mixed up in Elvis' Christmas special in December of that year!
To sum up, the movie didn't respect the music of Elvis nearly enough. It was frustrating to hear just snippets of good songs. In my opinion the film is barely worth seeing, and should be viewed with skepticism as to it's accuracy and entertainment value.
On the positive side, the costuming, set design, and cinematography were top notch. Austin Butler did a fine job as Elvis; he nailed the voice and accent. Tom Hanks gave a decently nuanced performance of Col. Parker. It may have been intended for him to be the bad guy, but I didn't hate the character.
However I was relieved when Elvis' mother died in movie so we didn't have to endure another of their on screen arguments. Did Parker and Presley actually negotiate their relationship in a house of mirrors and on a ferris wheel? Unlikely.
The 1960s civil rights struggle permeates the film unnecessarily. For some reason the assassinations of ML King and Robert Kennedy are involved in the movie. Bizarrely, the Kennedy death which took place in June 1968 is mixed up in Elvis' Christmas special in December of that year!
To sum up, the movie didn't respect the music of Elvis nearly enough. It was frustrating to hear just snippets of good songs. In my opinion the film is barely worth seeing, and should be viewed with skepticism as to it's accuracy and entertainment value.