Friday, May 31, 2013

The Great Gatsby (Movie Review)

Friday, May 31, 2013 12:07 PM with 12 comments
The Great Gatsby

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s): Baz Luhrmann, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Starring: , , , and Carey Mulligan
Release Date: May 10, 2013
Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language

My Rating 3.5 out of 5

Synopsis from IMDB: 

An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.


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MY THOUGHTS:
I remember being amazed by Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of Romeo + Juliet. I was obsessed with My So-Called Life during its way-too-brief run (seriously, Jordan Catalano and the way he leans) and so obviously loved Claire Danes and was already absolutely enamored with Leonardo di Caprio based on his early career on the show Growing Pains and movies like What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Basketball Diaries. What Baz did with the adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most famous works certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I absolutely adored the way he made the story modern, while keeping the antiquated language. The bright colors, the elaborate sets, the beautiful costumes. I loved it all.

So I was thrilled when I heard that Leo and Baz were teaming up again for one of my favorite classics: The Great Gatsby. I'm sure most of you know the basic premise of the story line, but for those who don't The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway, a young Yale graduate who fought in WWI and has recently moved to New York to learn about the bond business. He is renting a small cottage nestled in between the newly built mansions in West Egg, Long Island. His new digs are next to the uber-mansion of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby. Nick is enthralled by the lavish parties that are constantly raging next door and is eventually personally invited to one by the host. He soon finds out that nobody at the party seems to know who Gatsby is. In fact, they weren't even invited and never are. Everybody just shows up at Gatsby's house knowing that they will be welcomed and entertained.

Across the bay/harbor/some strip of water is what is known as East Egg. East Egg also has elaborate mansions lining its shores, but the residents are mostly "old money" who scoff at those with "new money" (like Gatsby)...This isn't really touched on in the movie, but the distinction of new and old money is important in the novel. Over on East Egg lives Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan and her husband, the formidable Tom Buchanan. It is because of Nick's connection with Daisy that he was invited to Gatsby's house. You see Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for years (the two were together before Gatsby was shipped off to war) and Gatsby wants Nick to arrange a meeting between the two.

Her husband, Tom, is portrayed as mean and careless. He has a mistress, Myrtle, who lives in the desolate part of Long Island in between the Eggs and the city known as Valley of Ashes. Myrtle's husband owns a gas station in the Valley. Because Tom is such a vile character, the audience feels justified in rooting for Gatsby to be reunited with his long-lost love.

I really enjoyed this adaptation of The Great Gatsby. I didn't see it in 3D as I didn't find that necessary. The cinematography is amazing. The colors, the costumes, the houses! Seriously, both Gatsby's house and the Buchanan's house are absolutely stunning. Stunning. While I've heard complaints from others, I wasn't bothered by the anachronistic soundtrack. After seeing both Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge it was what I was expecting from the director.

As far as the cast is concerned, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. Leo was the perfect Gatsby and absolutely nailed it. Joel Edgerton was wonderful as Tom and while Isla Fisher was a surprising choice for Myrtle, I think she did a great job. While I like Tobey Maguire and think he did a good job, frankly I feel like he was just plain too old for the role. Nick is 30 in Fitzgerald's novel and is awed by the city and by Gatsby. Maguire has to be in his late 30s, early 40s by now which makes his wide-eyed wonder unconvincing. A younger actor would have been a better choice. As far as Carey Mulligan, I'm sorry to say I think she is just too plain for this role. Daisy is a tough character because she is so vapid and silly (she's the fool she hopes her daughter grows up to be). In both the book and the movie it is hard to understand why Gatsby is so infatuated with her. For this reason, the actor portraying her has to have a beauty and charisma that Mulligan just doesn't have, in my opinion.

Overall, I would definitely recommend seeing The Great Gatsby and because of the cinematography and spectacle, I would recommend seeing it in theaters if you get the chance. Baz really stayed very faithful to the novel with only a few small changes that were necessary in converting the novel to the screen. The Great Gatsby has long been one of my favorite classics. It isn't the easiest book to read, as many a high school student will attest, but I still love it and am happy to see it has finally received the big screen treatment it deserves.

On a side note, it is rumored that Baz and Leo are tackling Hamlet next!!!

Have you seen this movie? What did you think? Have you read the book?

12 comments:

  1. I love Baz. His movies are always so interesting and not like anything you have seen before. I loved how he made his own style of filmmaking. Everything from the quick cut editing to the modern music choice.He has a vision for the way he wants his films to look. I have not seen it and would think that the casting would be a little off or not at their best because Baz does not seem very easy to work with. But he and Leo make a great team!I can not wait to see this.
    Really great review

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    1. Thanks Daydreamer! I really like how he uses modern music, too. Him and Leo are such a great team. I hope you great a chance to see it soon. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Great review! I love Baz (was a huge fan of R&J in high school) and MUST make time to see this in the movies. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall. And how exciting that Baz and Leo are thinking of Hamlet next...that would be awesome!

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    1. Thanks, Christina! I'm a huge fan of Baz, too. I hope you have a chance to see it soon. And wouldn't Hamlet be awesome! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I had no idea Baz was behind Romeo + Juliet! How interesting. :) I haven't read the book yet but I really want to before I end up watching the movie. :D

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    1. I'd definitely recommend reading the book first. It's a good one. Baz is the best. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I haven't seen it yet; I'll probably just rent it later, but it was good to read your thoughts on it! I also still need to read the book before I see the movie. Just based off the previews, my husband and I were thinking Joseph Gordon-Levitt should have played Nick Carraway. Sounds from your review like he would have been a better choice! And Leo is just great everything he does; I loved him in Growing Pains too. :)

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    1. Yes, GJL would have been a better choice. I definitely recommend reading it. It's a great book. Leo is the best. So cute and talented from Growing Pains on. Hope you enjoy the movie (and book if you read it). Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I remembered reading it when I was 12 and thinking how sad the ending was. Great review!

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    1. Thanks, Primrose! And, yes, the ending is such a sad one. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I thought the film was good, but largely style over substance (my review is here).

    What the film was mostly did was to remind me how much I loved Romeo and Juliet, and how in love with Leo I was when I was 12!

    Sarah

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    1. I love Romeo + Juliet so much, too. And Leo has been one of my favorites for so long. I agree that the film didn't quite capture the...melancholy, maybe, of the book, but stylistically it was amazing and I definitely give it props for that. Thank you for stopping by! I'll definitely check out your review.

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Hello, there! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I read each and every one and will do my best to respond--usually on your blog instead of on mine. I will, however, always answer direct questions. Due to serious time restraints, this blog is now an award free zone, but I appreciate the thought!