Thoughts I Had While Staring at this Elvis & Nixon Poster
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 8:00AM
Manuel here. Maybe it’s the whole “grass is always greener” thing, but I’ve always loved the UK quad posters. That’s certainly the case with this one for the upcoming comedy/drama Elvis & Nixon. If the title hasn’t clued you in, the film is about the random one time meeting between the King and the President which led to one of the most famous photographs in American history. You may have seen the trailer for this Liza Johnson film and here are 5 thoughts had while staring at this playful poster...
1. Spacey as Nixon makes sense to me but that Shannon as Elvis is some left field casting, no? He does brooding and complex and crazy and worried aren't you curious about how he'll fare here. (Also, unplanned, but I just realized Shannon made TFE's latest banner up top!)
2. This 60s sketch comedy design seems much better tailored for the film than the more serious-minded US poster. (I mean, you don’t cast Johnny Knoxville if you’re going for straight drama.)
3. So much hand-acting in this poster! Then again, both outsized icons are known for their all too often parodied mannerisms. (Can this really move beyond an SNL skit?)
4. Nixon lends himself so easily to crazy comedy (Yes, I’m talking about Dick)
5. Who do you think Spacey called up first for tips on playing Nixon: John Cusack (Lee Daniels’ The Butler), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) or Anthony Hopkins (Nixon)? I hope he talked to Dan Aykroyd, actually
Elvis & Nixon opens in theaters on April 22nd, so you have until then to convince yourself that maybe the cheeky tone and bonkers casting means the film has a peculiar sense of humor worth indulging.
Reader Comments (15)
Dan Hedaya, not Akroyd.
I think the tag line in the US poster pretty much negate the claim of "serious-minded".
I'm actually looking forward to this. It looks fun.
Only one thought:
1. Wow. Spacey is going to be So. So. Baaaaad in this. Which: of course. No one since Aykroyd has been even semi good playing Nixon. But Spacey? He's gonna be like No-Wire-Hangers Bad.
(1b. Except of course he'll get a Globe nod instead of a Razzie nod since he has a penis and it's okay for men to play Faye-Dunaway-playing-a-president.)
@goran
Streep won her 3rd Oscar for going full Dunaway.
/3rtful- I can't believe I agree with you for a change. Good one.
/3rtful
Ha! That's so funny - I actually typed "give or take pre-backlash Meryl Streep" in my original message but then deleted for no reason
Everyone forgets Philip Baker Hall. His Nixon was brilliant. Admittedly, probably not what Spacey is going for here though.
Left field casting is exactly what more movies need. Casting directors, directors and movie executives can be so limited in their thinking. I think this is a great choice, especially considering it's as someone as talented and unique as Shannon.
You couldn't pay me to see this.
goran: Hedaya!
There was a TV version of this from Showtime where Bob Gunton played Nixon and while it was largely fictionalized. It was entertaining as I loved the scene where Elvis asked Nixon if he had an enemies list. Nixon tried to deny it and Elvis asked "could you put the Beatles in there?"
It wouldn't surprise me if the two did share common enemies as Elvis nor Nixon liked the Beatles at all.
The style of the quad poster is definitely better but the US tagline is THE BEST:
"On December 21st, 1970, two of America's greatest recording artists met for the first time."
We all just need to brace ourselves for that Golden Globe nomination for Spacey. I mean, if it happened for CASINO JACK...
look at that u can see some change when your with your PET