Sunday 19 May 2013

The Great Gatsby



The Great Gatsby is one of those films that on paper looks perfect.  The trailer then came along and ended up being a master class in trailer making.  The promise was there but I just couldn’t muster up any interest in the film.
In order to remain consistent I will confirm for the record that I have not read the book. 
PLOT: A naïve and doe eyed Nick (Tobey Maguire) moves to New York to make his fortune.  Nick befriends the flamboyant Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCapio).  Gatsby is known to all but known by none and rumours of his wealth spread like wildfire throughout New York.  As Nick gets to know the real Gatsby it transpires that Jay is in love with Nick’s cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan).   Gatsby and Daisy spend the summer together however as the season comes to an end telling Daisy’s husband Tom (Joel Edgerton) about their affair has tragic consequences.  END PLOT
The plot of The Great Gatsby is more complex that it appears with social and class themes bubbling away underneath a traditional forbidden love story.  I was never bored but I could feel my mind beginning to wander on several occasions.  The running length of 142mins (IMDB) was a good half hour too long.
Leonardo DiCaprio is undoubtedly one of the best actors of our generation and as Jay Gatsby he does not disappoint.  Gatsby’s shy awkwardness and nervous clumsiness evolve into obsession and sudden bursts of anger towards the end of the film and DiCaprio handles the small changes in Gatsby with ease.
DiCaprio is the star of the film but he is equalled by Joel Edgerton an actor who is slowly but steadily making a name for himself.  Carey Mulligan has made a career of underacting and I have loved her for it but in The Great Gatsby the flighty nature of Daisy gives Mulligan much more to do than usual.
The weak link is Tobey Maguire and he manages to derail the film with his wide eye performance and cringe worthy narration.  Maguire is the biggest casting mistake is recent memory – what the hell was James McAvoy doing when auditions were being held?  To say that Tobey Maguire is awful is an understatement.
The Great Gatsby is directed by Baz Luhrmann and has all the hallmarks of his previous offerings.  The sets and costumes are gorgeous but there were occasions when the setting overshadowed the storytelling.  The extravagance thankfully takes a backseat in the final act when the drama is increased. 
The film is much better than a style over substance argument but it just wasn’t the modern masterpiece that it was aiming to be.  The Great Gatsby gets 6/10.  Unfortunately you could watch the trailer for The Great Gatsby and get the same reward as watching the 2hour spectacle – if not more.

4 comments:

  1. Fabulous review, Karina! I agree the film was all about style, but has no subtance and emotion. It was overlong and repetitive. The repetition of "old sport" drove me bonkers. The Great Gatsby shined in its first act, but not in the second and third acts. The visuals were stunning and the modernized music blends in well with the story.

    The marketing effort was impressive, but not the film. I agree just watch the trailer and you'll get the same reward.

    I enjoyed this film immensely, but at the same time, it was a chore to watch. I gave the film a "B". It was hard not to be generous to this film because it's directed by BAZ LUHRMANN!

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    1. I am glad I saw it in the cinema as it was quite the spectacle. The sets, costumes and soundtrack deserved to be seen and heard on the big screen.

      It was a film watched once but never again

      Thanks for stopping by!
      K :-)

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  2. You acutally like it more than I thought you would K. As for Tobey Maguire, the character in the book is exactly like that, so he kind of fit the bill. I love Baz and love this movie more than I should!

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    1. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed as I was not expecting to.

      It suited being viewed in the cinema.

      I won't ever read the book though!

      K :-)

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