Let me start the post off with a sad truth. I am the 1% of people that did not read The Great Gatsby while in high school, nor have I seen any previously made film adaptations. Going into Baz Luhrmann's version of The Great Gatsby was my first experience with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story, and seeing how the director's previous adaptation was…well, quite different, this may have not been the best idea (if confused, just look up Romeo + Juliet and you’ll see what I mean). To substitute for this, I brought friends who had already read the book and were willing to inform me what had been changed. According to my friends, very little has been changed—with the exception of some aesthetic changes to the music and scenery—the overall plot remaining fairly loyal to the original. For those who, like me, have not had the chance to read Gatsby, below is a brief opening summary (major spoilers free I assure you).
Nick Carraway (played by Tobey Maguire) has just moved to New York during the roaring twenties. He lives across the bay from his cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom (Joel Edgerton), as well as next door to his rich yet very mysterious neighbor Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) who Nick has not once met yet heard much about. The only thing Nick knows for certain about Gatsby is his fixation with looking at Daisy and Bob’s house, particularly their green light at the end of the dock. Daisy too shows mysterious behavior at the mention of Gatsby’s name, and one day Nick receives a personal invitation to attend one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties. What is the mystery behind who/what Gatsby truly is and his relationship with Daisy?
I must admit my anticipation for wanting to see The Great Gatsby in theaters as I am a great admirer of Luhrmann's earlier films (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!). The film, for the most part, didn't disappoint, and I'm quite pleased with its overall structure and aesthetic choices I've come to expect from Luhrmann's films. One of these choices was the risky move of combining the 1920s jazz with modern rap and hip-hop music. This idea was applied in Moulin Rouge!: taking a historical setting and adding a modern spin so that the audience gets a sense of what it was like to live back then by comparing it to the present. This creates an unusual, but surprisingly effective feel to the party scenes—giving these extravaganzas of the 1920s a much livelier experience, comparable to present day events. The scenery and backdrop also add a rich feeling to the film. Take Gatsby’s mansion, which is filled with grand rooms, vibrant colors, and an exotic golden decor of different patterns throughout the ceiling and walls. Luhrmann puts extra care into these scenes so that the visual and musical experience amplifies what’s happening on screen.
There is a scene where Gatsby’s face is first revealed to Nick at one of these parties. I've been informed that the scene plays off word for word as it does in the book—however, the movie adds two significant factors. The first is the use of fireworks being shot off as soon as Gatsby’s face is seen, and the second is the use of Rhapsody in Blue being played by the band right at the song’s critical high point. The scene reminded me of the opening to Woody Allen’s Manhattan where these same two factors are being used to signify the grandness of New York. Likewise, these aspects are used to signify just how grand Gatsby appears to Nick, even grander than the already amazing New York. These aspects are the warm heart and soul of the movie, and Luhrmann goes great lengths to create an atmosphere where the audiences can appreciative just how Nick saw this era of prosperity and freedom, along with each of the characters.
Despite the great visuals and music, there are some significant downfalls to this film. One of the biggest flaws is the film's underuse of its female characters, which, to be fair, is also lacking in the original novel. However, Luhrmann does one worse by editing out several scenes containing ladies (Nick’s romantic interest in the film essentially becomes a background character by the final act). The majority of women come across as generally bland in a film that is under the romance-drama genre. This creates a one-sided main romance that is both weak and uninteresting, significantly weakening both the film's tragedy and final act. To make matters worse is Luhrman’s sudden discontinuing use of both modern music and aesthetic design (those great aspects completely disappear for no explicable reason)—creating a relatively lifeless and disappointing final act.
The last act is saved from complete lack of energy however, thanks to the superb acting of both Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire (giving one of the finer performances I've seen in his career), who brings enough personality and energy to the big screen so that the movie still flows even after the heart has died down. Overall, I liked The Great Gatsby; the film is some delightful eye candy with several great performances. People who enjoyed the book will appreciate this movie for its accuracy and those looking for something else will enjoy its fine creativity and style; though it’s highly suggested by this reviewer that you see in 3D as the film was made for that kind of viewing.
