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The King

2017

Eugene Jarecki

Documentary, Self: Elvis Presley, Eugene Jarecki, James Carville ...

6.4

153

Documentary Musical Road Movie as a portrait of the American dream. Set against the 2016 American election, 'Promised Land' takes a musical road trip across the country in Elvis Presley’s 1963 Rolls Royce.

	Media	Author	Review
		Owen Gleiberman Variety	"It’s a meditation on the current American crisis (...) The two elements — America and Elvis — come together in ticklish, surprising ways that expand and delight your perceptions."
		Leslie Felperin The Hollywood Reporter	"[It] may be his most broadly appealing film so far, it's arguably his messiest and least intellectually satisfying work (...) It’s as if Jarecki has made two films and put them through a digital blender"
		Jordan Hoffman The Guardian	"Jarecki’s maximalist approach is surprisingly effective in elucidating how Western culture has subsisted on lies (...) 'Promised Land' has a thesis and it presents it well (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		David Ehrlich IndieWire	"Eugene Jarecki’s brilliant documentary uses Elvis Presley to explain Donald Trump (...) [An] insightful look at how the hell America got to where it is today."
		Sarah Ward Screendaily	"'Promised Land' deftly flits from biography to impact study to cinematic essay (...) An engaging, informative and impassioned journey"
		Steve Pond The Wrap	"'Promised Land' is that kind of movie – big, bold and overreaching, in love with but also skeptical of its own central metaphor of Elvis’ career as a version of America’s own history."
		Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice	"Scattered and disorienting (...) There are moments of clarity and insight"

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