Elvis & Nixon (2016)

My Review

Stars Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon and director Liza Johnson (“Return” 2011) pull off an unlikely entertaining movie based solely on a photography featuring two well-know personalities in “Elvis & Nixon.” Johnson and screenwriters Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal, and Carey Elwes created an amusing film which relied greatly on the pair playing the lead roles. The famous photo was take on Dec. 21, 1970, at the White House.

Kevin Spacey as President Richard Nixon and Michael Shannon as Elvis Presley both delivered subtle performances as these well-know personalities. They resisted the temptation to over-act with exaggerated mannerisms. Co-stars include Colin Hanks as Bud Krogh, Tate Donovan as H. R. Haldeman, Geraldine Singer as Rose Mary Woods, Johnny Knoxville as Elvis’ bodyguard, and Dylan Penn (daughter of Sean Penn and Robin Wright) as a hotel clerk. “Elvis & Nixon” flopped at the box office for Autumn Productions, Elevated Films, and Amazon Studios.