The King

The King is a riveting 2017 documentary directed by the innovative filmmaker Eugene Jarecki. And while it might seem as though the title refers to a standard royal archetype, it instead hails to the unparalleled "King of Rock and Roll," Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley left an indelible mark on the music industry and American culture in general. The King serves as more than just a homage to his noteworthy life and iconic career; it symbolically utilises Elvis as a metaphor for the current situation and trajectory of the American Dream, investigating deep issues such as class struggles, wealth disparity, racial politics and cultural ambitions.

Jarecki brilliantly resurrects Elvis by purchasing his 1963 Rolls Royce, and then using this classic car as a literal vehicle to traverse across America, winding through places that were significant to Elvis' life. From his birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi, to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Jarecki rides the same roads that Elvis once traveled. Along the journey, a variety of passengers hop in and out of the car, making the narrative both unpredictable and intriguing. These individuals range from celebrities to common people, everyday folk who have personal and compelling narratives to share about Elvis and what he represented.

This mismatched cast of characters offers an extraordinary chorus of voices that contribute to the eclectic information and perspectives the film compiles on Elvis Presley. This includes provocative political commentator James Carville, famous musicians like Emmylou Harris and Chuck D from Public Enemy, actors Ethan Hawke and Mike Myers, and a multitude of ordinary Americans who were directly influenced or inspired by Elvis.

The King isn't just tethered to retelling the life and legacy of the renowned King of Rock and Roll. While it perhaps begins that way, using Elvis as a lens, the documentary transcends this focus to paint an incisive, larger cultural commentary on the United States itself, juxtaposing its rise and fall with that of Elvis. Through this analogy, the film becomes an audacious critique of America's cultural and political landscape, suggesting that the country, like Elvis in his later years, has lost sight of its original identity and has now become bloated, distracted by commercialism and celebrity culture, and straying far from its roots.

The tie-in between Elvis Presley and American ideals is undeniably fascinating. Both hailed from humble beginnings, blossomed with unparalleled optimism, and eventually grappled with downfall. Elvis' rags-to-riches story is a perfect archetype of the American Dream – a boy from a dirt-poor background who would later reshape the world of music and become an international superstar. Yet his life later evolved into a series of well-documented struggles with drugs and weight gain, leading him toward a premature death – arguably a parallel to the faltering pursuit of the American Dream in contemporary times. This subtext threads throughout the documentary, collating Elvis' life trajectory and the cultural, political, and economic shifts in America.

Coupling this all together, The King is more than just an odyssey about Elvis Presley or a critique on modern America – it's a profound exploration of the societal constructs that have shaped American identity over the years. It is not just a nostalgic riff on Elvis' legendary status in the music world, but rather, a deeply thoughtful meditation on the unchecked ambitions, lofty pursuits, and glaring inequalities that mark American history.

Directed by Eugene Jarecki, The King plunges us into an insightful journey mapping out Elvis Presley's profound impact on music, culture, and society, while concurrently drawing parallels with the changing shapes of the American Dream. Whether you are a die-hard Elvis fan or just a passionate observer of contemporary American culture, The King is a compelling, thought-provoking documentary that urges you to ponder more profound societal issues while enjoying the show.