Harvey Keitel

Johnathon Schaech

Bridget Fonda

Gretchen Mol

John Aylward

Susan Traylor

Peggy Gormley

David Leonard

Jason White

Luis Colina

Jason Horwitch

Frank K. Isaac

Stephen Endelman

Barr B. Potter

Elliot Davis

David Winkler

Cary Brokaw

Caty Maxey

Stuart M. Besser

Susan Mina Eschelbach

Priscilla Presley

Julie Weiss

Jeffrey Townsend

Rick Avery

Joni Avery

Fred Lerner

Drama

Finding Graceland

Largo Entertainment

Avenue Pictures

United States of America

Low-key road trip with “Elvis” about grief, wonder, healing and love

RELEASED IN 1998 and directed by David Winkler, "Finding Graceland” 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 Elvis’ 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 ‘Elvis’ character. It takes Burn (Schaech) a long time to catch a grip with him, as it does the viewer: Does ‘Elvis’ REALLY believe he’s Elvis or is he a con? If he’s a con, why does he throw money on the floor like it’s worthless to him? How could he possibly know the minutia about Elvis that he does? If he’s 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 it’s 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+

English

Finding Graceland Trailer 1998