The Great Gatsby | Review
I honestly have mixed feelings about this latest adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic. On one hand, it is a perfect adaptation of the novel itself. The glitz and glam of director Baz Luhrmann’s unique vision fits this representation of the Roaring 20’s and the crazy parties thrown by Gatsby. The characters are perfectly cast, too! I can’t see anyone else playing the characters of Gatsby, Nick, Daisy, and Tom than Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgarton respectively. However, a perfect adaptation of the novel does not translate into a good film.
I’m really surprised by how much the film actually follows the novel. I don’t recall anything significant being changed or left out from the source material. The only exception is that Nick Carraway is narrating the story from an asylum (revealed in the first few minutes of the film), which is an odd creative decision. Anywho, as I was saying, the film follows the novel almost beat for beat, which may also be its downfall.
The main problems I had with the film were the slow pacing and how empty and hollow it was. You don’t have any emotional connection with the characters. Most are selfish, unsympathetic, or tragic characters that, by the end of the film, you don’t really care what happens to them. But see, this emptiness in characters is exactly like the novel, though it works better in the novel.
The novel is full of symbolism about the loss of the American dream and the carelessness of the wealthy class. In the film, we see only glimpses of this lost American dream and we envy the rich rather than pity them. From Gatsby’s glorious mansion, awesome parties, and the Buchanan’s large estate, the film glamorizes them and makes us want that lifestyle more than anything.
The film’s strength lies in its visuals and interesting creative decisions in terms of musical selection and camera movements. The soundtrack is pretty damn good (featuring the likes of Jay-Z, who is also the soundtrack’s producer, Lana Del Ray, Beyonce, The XX, Gotye, and much more) but it doesn’t always fit the mood of the scenes they’re with. It may sound odd to see characters from the 20’s dancing to a Jay-Z song, but I like how the use of contemporary music gives more emphasis to the timelessness of the morals and themes of the original novel. I like the creative transitions between scenes and the quick camera zooms. I really do appreciate the ambition and beauty of this film, and its avant-garde approach, but many times the beauty outweighs everything else in the film.
I must say, though, Leonardo DiCaprio stands out as the most effective in the film. He expertly plays the enigmatic Gatsby with something to hide, and also his optimistic and hopeful side. His character is the closest thing to an emotional character. The first scene in which he sees Daisy for the first time in years is a standout moment because there’s so much tension in not only the scene but in DiCaprio’s (and Mulligan’s) expression.
I can’t think of anything else to say really, so I’ll end it here. I guess this is more of a three-minute review than a one-minute one this time lol. So yeah, people will either love or hate this movie. It’s a good adaptation, but a bad movie.
