Never has Elvis seemed so fresh in this surprisingly funny film

Elvis & Nixon

(15) 86mins

THIS film is based on the existence of a single photo of The King with the leader of the Free World, taken in 1970.

There is no record of a conversation, or minutes from any meeting at the Oval Office.

There is just the rumour that Elvis sauntered into the White House seeking a badge that would make him a special agent for the FBI, such was his concern (ironically) over illegal drug use.

That’s pretty much all we know, but it hasn’t stopped Liza Johnson creating one of the most interesting and funniest films of the year.

Michael Shannon (Elvis) and Kevin Spacey (Nixon) absolutely NAIL their parts.

I may even go as far as saying Shannon should get awards for his portrayal.

His is a strange casting, which makes zero sense until he opens his mouth.

He plays the world’s most famous musician, as a spaced out, tinfoil hat-wearing fruit loop.

How this got past the Presley estate, I’ll never know, but it was a wise move on their part — never has Elvis seemed so, so fresh.

Also, Shannon wisely decides not to do the voice so we’re spared an impression. Spacey’s Nixon — a borderline cameo — on the other hand is a curmudgeon badly out of step with the modern world.

His incredulity at the power and influence Elvis has over the youth vote would never happen today.

In fact, if this happened today, it would be Taylor Swift meeting Barack Obama and every second would be Instagrammed, tweeted and Snapchatted, which is what makes the clandestine nature of this tale so thrilling.

The vast majority of the film is taken up with Elvis exerting influence and charm on a succession of starstruck officials to gain access to the President.

There’s a lot of breathless office girls swooning and Elvis getting frustrated at not being able to do whatever he pleases, but there is also the realisation that celebrity has not always been the cesspit of up-skirt pics we’ve come to hate.

There was once a time of mystery, charisma and (shock) talent.

One of the many memorable scenes which lingers is when the quick-witted script pits Elvis in a donut shop against a resentful black community, disgruntled at his appropriation of R&B for the white masses.

Something that could have been worthy or flabby is one of the funniest exchanges in the film.

By the time the two heavy- weights get in the same room for their hilarious meeting of one-upmanship, you want the film to go on for another hour.

Never have I wanted a film to be true as much as Elvis & Nixon.

An absolute riot.

Thangyewverymuch.

Sun Rating 4/5

Independence Day: Resurgence

SOME 20 years after the annihilation of half the world’s population and the near destruction of the planet, Earth is in a state of peace.

The aliens’ technology has been harvested to build defences against another invasion.

Of course, if those defences were up to it, this film would last five minutes.

So strap yourselves in because (almost) all the old team are back to kick some alien butt again.

Joining Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Brent Spiner are various children of original characters who are too old to fly jets or have passed away.

The threat had to surpass the previous one, which it does by being the size of the Atlantic Ocean and knocking over the London Eye and east coast of the US in one move.

What follows is destruction, cheekbones, cheese on an epic scale, Goldblum doing his stammering vague chatty thing and presidential motivation speeches.

It’s very daft, very American, very blockbuster and very good indeed.

Sun Rating 3/5

The Secret Life of Pets

TALKING animals going on a madcap adventure is wearily familiar ground, but this brings something new to the party.

There is so much to enjoy that any familiarity to the classic Toy Story 2 is just a niggle.
The characters are brilliantly drawn – particularly the tattooed pig.

He escaped from an inking parlour after being used for practise.

There are brilliant crocodiles which give a nod to the ticking reptile in early Disney’s Peter Pan.

The 3D was scary enough to send around 200 kids jumping out of their seats.

And the idea an underground gang of critters is fighting for a revolution after being flushed down the loo is original and fun.

Kevin Hart’s cute gangsta bunny Snowball steals all the scenes (think Roger Rabbit’s Baby Herman).

It may lack the sentiment and death themes of a classic Pixar tale but this younger, punk brother of a movie is still a hit.

Sun Rating 3/5