Dan1863Sickles If you can get past the ghastly appearance of Michael Shannon as Elvis, this isn't really a bad film. The brief real-life meeting of Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon turns into a whimsical look at both men, with lots of humor, some great period music, and some surprisingly poignant character moments featuring both American icons. I have nothing but respect for Michael Shannon. In a show like BOARDWALK EMPIRE, where he plays the rigid, fanatical, psychotic Federal Agent Nelson Van Alden, he's absolutely mesmerizing. But casting Michael Shannon as Elvis is like casting Boris Karloff as Rudolph Valentino. Shannon's Elvis is a ghastly-looking creature with a fake black wig that looks like it just died on the top of his head. And yet the first half hour of the movie is nothing but an endless procession of pretty girls blushing and fainting at the mere sight of him. It really starts the movie off on the wrong foot. On the other hand, Kevin Spacey is surprisingly effective as Richard Nixon. The movie has enormous fun playing with the double-sided fish out of water concept. Nixon is tough and confident when dealing with hard issues like war, politics, and money, but almost childishly insecure about his looks and sexuality. Elvis is completely at ease with his sex appeal and celebrity but almost childishly eager to prove himself as a "grown man."The real strength of this movie is that its best moments really are built on the way these two great heroes get to know each other. It's amazing that in real life they only spoke for fifteen or twenty minutes, but the movie makes you feel as if they're getting to know each other over a period of weeks. I loved when Nixon had a long speech by himself about how good-looking guys always make fun of him and how he hates them, yet when Elvis tells him he's not that bad looking he's incredibly flattered. By the same token, when Elvis talks about how much he has to offer as a "Federal Agent at large" you can see how Nixon goes way out of the way not to hurt his feelings, even as his face shows he realizes Elvis is really out there. While both the leads are incredible in this film, it's interesting that the younger men really steal the show at times. Colin Hanks as Bud Krogh and Alex Pettyfer as Jerry Schilling are both completely likable and believable in the role of loyal followers who try to help their heroes while carving out their own identities. If you can get past the awful casting of Michael Shannon as Elvis, there's a lot to enjoy about ELVIS & NIXON.

Antonio Nimertis ...and not 'Nixon and Elvis' or something like that. Let's keep this in mind... and let us not hurry to express strong protest about Michael Shannon: But this man is not Elvis! He is not talking like him, he is not walking like him, he is not even singing! If we want to find the ideal Elvis, one ride in Vegas is enough to have a dozen. Here we have the man behind the fringe, and the sideburns. The man with the divine voice and southern gentle accent flooded with hyper-patriotic feelings and worries! 1970 expires and Elvis watches television from his luxurious mansion and resents! These Communists will eventually f... everything up! And drugs have been rotting the minds of young people! Go crap! Something we must do. Rather, something I have to do myself! Country is in desperate need! And I, the King will offer my service! But who should I contact? The King cannot be conversing with the inferiors. The King should come into contact with the Boss... and where is the Boss? In the White House of course! But will the President accept me? Will he be available for me? Silly question... For a moment I forgot that I am the King... and who can deny anything to a crowned?

blanche-2 "Elvis & Nixon" from 2016 is the partially-fictionalized story of the famous meeting between the rock 'n' roll star and President Richard Nixon. I say partially fictionalized because Nixon hadn't yet started taping everything, but there are true elements, as much of this story came from someone who was there, Jerry Schilling, played here by Alex Petyfer.Elvis got it into his head that he wanted to go undercover as an FBI agent and snuff out drug dealers. But for his efforts, he wanted a badge. Since Elvis was on drugs himself, one questions the whole operation. However naive he may have been, though, the King genuinely wanted to do some good. It's not known if he ever did go undercover. Elvis here is played by Michael Shannon. He doesn't look like Elvis, but tinted glasses, a black wig, a jumpsuit, and gold jewelry will take you far when it comes to Elvis. He has the soft southern voice and the politeness that Elvis was known for, as well his feeling of being trapped by the "Elvis" persona. He's also hilarious - after being told not to drink the Dr. Pepper, as it is for the President, and not to eat the M&Ms, as they're for the President, he asks for a bottle opener and starts downing M&Ms. Kevin Spacey is a brilliant Nixon - he has the voice, the posture, and the facial expressions.As others have pointed out, the photo of Elvis and Nixon is the most requested photo in the National Archives.Not much happens in this low-key film, but due to the star performances, it manages to be entertaining.

mcollins-78667 Good performances, tongue in cheek comedy, worth watching if you haven't yet heard the story.Still not as funny as the 1997 original Elvis Meets Nixon, narrated by Dick Cavett. That was a quicker paced outright 'mockumentary', no big names but excellent acting all the way. Hard to find though.