Wuchak
Low-key road trip with āElvisā about grief, wonder, healing and love RELEASED IN 1998 and directed by David Winkler, "Finding Gracelandā is a drama about a peculiar drifter claiming to be Elvis (Harvey Keitel) who catches a ride with a grief-stricken young man (Johnathon Schaech) and travel from the Southwest to Memphis to make the anniversary of the real Elvisā death, August 16th. Along the way they run into a Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Bridget Fonda). The best thing about this film is the intriguing eccentricity of the āElvisā character. It takes Burn (Schaech) a long time to catch a grip with him, as it does the viewer: Does āElvisā REALLY believe heās Elvis or is he a con? If heās a con, why does he throw money on the floor like itās worthless to him? How could he possibly know the minutia about Elvis that he does? If heās a drifter, where does he get the kind of cash he can just throw around at whim? True, he may get gigs as an impersonator, but do they seriously pay enough to have his attitude? The answers are there if you reflect on the data. In addition, the road trip element is entertaining and Bridget was in her prime at 33-34. But itās the characters and the potent themes of grief, wonder, healing and love that win the day. I can see how some would roll their eyes at the hinted fantasy elements, but I found the film touching and heartwarming. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 37 minutes and was shot in Hollywood & Tunica, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; and some spots in the Southwest. WRITERS: Jason Horwitch and David Winkler. GRADE: B+