Aug 07, 2001 01:35 AM
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It seems there was quite a bit of confusion when 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND was first released as a theatrical trailer. Sure, it was about a gang of criminals dressed like Elvis, but the very fact that they were attired this way invited speculation that this film was more of a comedy or a farce than the edgy, violent, sexually charged film that it really is. I have the feeling that this marketing confusion may have kept more than a few film fans out of the theater.
For real fans of Elvis, the antics contained herein will not be very amusing. Indeed, this film seems to be created for the majority -- people who regard the ongoing worship of Elvis Presley with a mixture of curiosity, amusement and perhaps even contempt.In a nutshell, 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND is about a quintet of criminals led by a psychopath who believes that he is an illegitimate child of Elvis. The thugs apparently hooked up while in prison and have hatched a plan to rob the Riviera casino in Las Vegas during an Elvis look-alike event.
With the incredible body of work that spanned Elvis Presley's career, the filmmakers seemed to hone in on just one song, ''Such A Night'', which in my view, is sorely overplayed throughout the film. I kept asking myself ''Is this the only song these guys could afford to license?''
3000 MILES TO GRACELAND is obviously not a low budget flick. Boasting some heavy-hitting talent and excellent production values, the film is real eye candy to both sexes (Kurt Russell for the ladies and Courtney Cox for the gentlemen). The lights of Vegas are exploited to their fullest, adding real zing to the production, as does the bright red '59 Cadillac that Kurt Russell drives.
