As I've had about a week to reflect on my viewing of "The Great Gatsby", I have concluded that this is the least Luhrmannish of any Baz Luhrmann film to date. The trailers were very Luhrmann, and I was pretty psyched to get the full experience. Instead I got a really good movie which was more subtle than I had expected. The atmosphere of the Roaring 20s is a perfect fit for Luhrmann's visual style, and I think that he did an excellent job, but this movie is about something, and the 20s is simply a backdrop. Let me clarify that last statement; I suggest that the story and the characters represented in this film are timeless. Luhrmann stays true to the novel and retains the period, but he could have easily updated the setting and been just as successful (as in his "Romeo and Juliet"). What he does in this film is allow the characters to take center stage, their actions and motivations are what drives the film. Without the standard clichés, we come to see Carey Mulligan's character Daisy for the truly selfish woman that she always has been. Tobey Maguire is perfectly cast as Nick, who is Gatsby's best friend and our guide through the story. I say perfectly cast, because it was so easy to accept Maguire's performance as an unassuming, reliable narrator. Leonardo DiCaprio, in the title role gets an opportunity to once again show his amazing range as an actor. While I was reminded somewhat of his portrayal of Howard Hughes in "The Aviator", it was only briefly. Overall he hit all the right notes, which involves a tragic detachment from reality, an inspirational attitude of determination, and one of the best fits of rage I've ever seen captured on film (which really is the best place for it).
It was especially enjoyable to see a movie with Jess which was based on a book that she really likes. Now I feel like I've read the book too.
1 comment:
I just saw this last night and was pleasantly surprised by the entire film but in the end, I am not sure I like it the way that I like Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge or Australia. I think it is because both Romeo and Julie and Moulin Rouge, having the similarity with Gatsby of being tragedies, had longer moments of joy. I felt that The Great Gatsby had little to no joy for Gatsby and Daisy (sorry for the spoiler). And as for me, I enjoy Australia the best (of Baz Luhrmann's films). In someways it is probably the worst, least creative of the bunch, but hey, what can ya say? I'm not the biggest fan of tragedies.
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