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JOHNNY OLEKSINSKI “Priscilla,” the superb drama about Priscilla Presley’s complicated marriage to Elvis, does not end with an Elvis Presley song. Instead, the final minutes of writer-director Sofia Coppola’s affectionate movie, which had its North American premiere Friday at the New York Film Festival, come courtesy of another Tennessee music legend: “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton. Actually, we hear hardly any sustained Elvis hits throughout the film’s near-two-hour runtime. When 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) first falls for the 24-year-old King (Jacob Elordi) on a US Air Force base in Germany, where he and her father are stationed in 1959, she sweetly floats through her high-school hallway as “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James & the Shondells plays. Talk about all shook up — that song wasn’t even released until 1968. When Elvis is a jerk to his wife, he can’t cheaply earn the viewer’s forgiveness by crooning “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” He sure behaves like a hound dog when he’s away filming “Viva Las Vegas” with Ann-Margret, but he never sings a ditty about it. With Coppola’s shrewd eschewing of Elvis tunes, she makes two requests of the audience: One, to evaluate this storied relationship like we would any other — divorced from Elvis’ musical genius. And two, to allow the film to truly be about its fascinating title character rather than usurped by her iconic ex-husband. If you agree to the director’s terms, you’ll be rewarded in dividends. Coppola’s movie is packed with many similarly smart, but never egotistical storytelling decisions and is easily one of the finest films of her career. She’s also brought out two sensitive, restrained performances from Spaeny, in her biggest role so far, as Priscilla and the fast-rising Elordi (“Euphoria”) as Elvis. Spaeny’s not-at-all-belabored transition from shy teen to prematurely adult woman — Priscilla gets poofy, black hair and snug dresses picked out by controlling Elvis — creeps up on you and then is totally shocking, like a morally questionable Eliza Dolittle. And that’s what might make some viewers queasy: the 10-year gap between the duo when Priscilla is a mere 14. The risque nature of their courtship, though, is deftly and tastefully handled onscreen. Elvis and Cilla are smitten, of course, but the parents and friends around them are vocally skeptical of the age difference. The film, which is based on Priscilla’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me” also sticks to her story that she didn’t have sex with Elvis until the two got married when she was 21. And, anyway, it happened. You can’t change history. “Priscilla” starts out as a light and lovable fairytale — what young person doesn’t dream of dating a celebrity? — and then becomes gradually more corroded as she moves away to Graceland and the mansion goes from palatial escape to prison. When the still-teenaged Priscilla wants to get a job working in town to make her own money and pass the time, her husband tells her by phone, “It’s either me or a career baby.” Over and over again, she chooses him. Elordi, who’s having quite a year with “Priscilla” and Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” has got the requisite Elvis voice down, but he elevates it above a hokey impression. His Presley is a fleshed-out, complex, insecure person, and the actor is proving himself a formidable leading man. Devotion becomes a struggle for Priscilla as Elvis’ infidelity and worsening drug problem form a wedge between them. His temper flares up, and the two start leading separate lives. Their daughter Lisa-Marie Presley, who died in January, is born and Priscilla seeks calm and refuge in Los Angeles. Clearly, Coppola isn’t putting on a fireworks display here. Her movie ends before Elvis’ dramatic death in 1977 at 42 and thank God it doesn’t feature Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker like Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” did last year. The eccentric manager is only mentioned in passing. Subtle and lovely as it is, though, “Priscilla” is craftily gripping as Priscilla tries so hard to carve out a normal, healthy, reciprocal life with one of the world’s most famous men. Luhrmann’s film, by the way, was differently wondrous, and lest fans of it worry they’ll be all King’d out, “Priscilla” and “Elvis” make fabulous companion pieces. Kind of like Dolly and Whitney Houston’s versions of “I Will Always Love You.”

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SEE BELOW! SAME WEBSITE, DIFFERENT AUTHOR: An elderly man was struck and killed by a dump truck while crossing the street just steps away from his home in College Point on Thursday morning. The 63-year-old victim, Lance Ruthkowski, resided on 14th Road, less than a block away from where he was killed. According to the NYPD, he was crossing the street southbound at the intersection of 14th Road and 115th Street.

NICE ARTICLES: https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2023/10/02/changing-of-the-guard-at-the-promenade-gardens/ https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2023/08/15/brooklyn-heights-promenade-gardeners-improve-beauty-and-safety-of-historic-walkway/ https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2022/12/22/promenade-gardeners-celebrate-another-successful-growing-season/

44 years to the minute before you posted this I was on my way into Manhattan to see ABBA at Radio City Music Hall. Try not to be too jealous!

The Rangers have been without Max Scherzer since mid-September, but the three-time Cy Young winner hasn’t given up hope of pitching in the postseason. Indeed, he seems to be progressing well toward that goal. His teammates did their part on Wednesday afternoon, beating the Rays to win the AL Wild Card Series and advance to the ALDS. Scherzer, meanwhile, pitched another bullpen session (according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News), ramping up the intensity with which he threw. The veteran described the session as “pain-free” and seemed excited about his progress, calling out in triumph as he made his way back to the clubhouse. While he’ll have to wait to see how his body reacts in the coming days, that sounds like promising news. As the Rangers celebrated their first postseason series victory in over a decade, Scherzer had his trademarked look of (dual-colored) determination in his eyes (per Tyler Kepner of The Athletic). “Based on today, I’m turning a corner, I see a path,” the future Hall of Famer said. “You never know.” Based on those comments, it doesn’t sound like his return is fast approaching – he remains doubtful for the ALDS – but the deeper the Rangers play into October, the more likely it is that Scherzer can get back on the mound.

Bradley Cooper’s Prosthetic Nose Was Partially To Give Him a “Nasal Voice,” Says ‘Maestro’ Makeup Artist “I made a nose plug with different size holes, to give him a nasal voice,” said makeup artist Kazu Hiro.

Kris Jenner found out about Caitlyn's transition from E! execs

Airbnb guest ‘from hell’ squatting at home for 500 days — wants owner to pay $100K https://nypost.com/2023/10/04/airbnb-guest-from-hell-refuses-to-leave-luxury-rental-after-500-days/ The Landlord:

Got my flu + 4th booster yesterday. I had a Walgreens Band-Aid on each bicep. I looked like such a macho stud as I left the store using my walker.

Mom of Nathaniel and Josh Lowe has cancer, won't attend series No relation to injured Tampa 2B Brandon Lowe, who pronounces his name like the late hitting coach Charlie Lau's last name. The mother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe and Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe will not make the trip to Tropicana Field for this week's AL wild-card series featuring her sons because she is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Younger brother Josh said he called his mother, Wendy, on Monday to ask if she would mind him discussing her situation publicly in advance of the start of the best-of-three matchup that begins Tuesday. "She's actually battling cancer, so she's going through chemo right now. She won't be able to make it, but I asked her if it was OK if I said something, and she said yes because the more people that know, the more prayers that could be had for her," the 25-year-old outfielder said. The Lowe brothers, who both began their pro careers in the Tampa Bay minor league system, first shared a major league field together when the Rays and Rangers met at Tropicana Field in June. The Rangers acquired Nathaniel, 28, in a December 2020 trade, while Josh was still making his way through the minor leagues. Wendy and husband Dave attended that series, and Wendy wore a custom, split baseball jersey -- one half a white Rays uniform, the other in Rangers blue, with "Lowe" written across the back.

'Leaning Tower' residents forced to pay $6.8M for failed fix Residents of Millennium Tower, better known as the Leaning Tower of San Francisco, have been left to foot a $6.8 million bill after a much-needed renovation project failed to fix the troubled luxury building’s 29-inch tilt caused nasty sewage spills….

HERE'S HOW TO REDEEM Join or log into Panda Rewards via PandaExpress.com or the mobile app Go to your Rewards tab, and select your Free Apple Pie Roll under Offers Redeem your offer in store or online

Same-sex mating in mammals may be a key to easing conflict A Nature Communications paper suggests same-sex activity may help mammals’ social relationships. Read in The Washington Post: https://apple.news/AgvxfHV_ST6-b6uJ7Lxam4w

Beyond Pluto, New Horizons Gets a Reprieve from NASA It’s lonely out there in the desolation that reigns where NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft now cruises on its one-way trip out of our solar system, with little to pass the time besides sniffing whiffs of plasma and stargazing. After nearly two decades of deep-space operations, the probe is currently more than eight billion kilometers from Earth… Read in Scientific American: https://apple.news/AmkWL40nGQBe_-bWI0bfZdA

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Wedding officiant accidentally shoots own grandson after trying to get guests' attention on the bright side, I'd say it was probably Mission Accomplished!

The weirdest workplace in the world: it cost $250 million The stunning offices beat any work-from-home setup.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of exploiting young men for sex Eight men tell BBC Panorama they attended events involving sex acts run for Mike Jeffries and his partner, some after sexual ‘auditions’ Well, what else are you going to exploit them for? Read in The Guardian: https://apple.news/AlvzRnlC5Qk-vzOJnuNQ98w