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Baz Luhrmann has always been a director obsessed with the visual...a director who seems to prefer flash over substance at times, not always trusting that his source material is strong enough to stand on its own power. This has never been more apparent than in his 2013 re-thinking of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
This third theatrical version of the classic Fitzgerald novel begins with Nick Carroway (Tobey Maguire) talking to a doctor who suggests that he recount in writing his relationship with an enigmatic neighbor named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), a billionaire who lives in a huge mansion and throws elaborate parties on a regular basis that everyone in Manhattan attends but Nick doesn't show up until he receives a written invitation. Nick then learns the reason that he has been befriended by this lonely millionaire is that he wants to enlist Nick's help in reuniting with Nick's cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), a long lost love who is now married to Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton), but Gatsby doesn't seem to care about that or even consider it an issue.
As he always does, Luhrman creates a vivid and striking atmosphere that is deliciously appealing. He makes New York in the roaring 20's seem like the only time and place that was ever worth living and makes sure the view never feels like an outsider looking in...he puts us directly in the center of what is happening and makes us immediately care about these characters and question their motivations as well.
I have never seen the 1949 version with Alan Ladd as Gatsby but I have seen the 1974 version with Robert Redford as Gatsby and that is the primary difference between this version and that version, the way the character of Gatsby is presented. In the '74 version, Gatsby is portrayed as a little obsessive and self-absorbed, but Luhrmann gives us a Gatsby who is more than obsessed...this Gatsby seems more than a little obsessed with Daisy and displays possible mental issues that might be due to PTSD from Gatsby's time in the military, an issue that was glossed over in the '74 version and in Fitzgerald's novel, but Luhrmann chose to put it front and center as the through line for the character, making certain things the character does cringe-worthy.
It is this part of DiCaprio's performance that really works...watch him in the scene where he has Nick's house turned upside down for Daisy's first visit and is waiting on her arrival...he's like a ticking time bomb. Or when he tells Nick that Daisy has to tell Tom that she never loved Tom. Gatsby is not satisfied with Daisy loving him now, he is only happy with Daisy telling Tom she NEVER loved him and this I think the "a-ha" moment for Daisy when even she realizes this man is not all there. The rest of DiCaprio's performance, anything that has nothing to do with Daisy, is a little affected and stagy...the way he says the phrase "Old Sport" really grated on my nerves.
Tobey Maguire's wide-eyed sincerity was perfect for the role of Nick and Carey Mulligan made an enchanting Daisy. Joel Edgerton is effective as Tom, even though the character comes off dumb as a box of rocks (preferred Bruce Dern in the '74 version), but I loved Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker and Isla Fisher as the tragic Myrtle Wilson.
Luhrmann's creative team is on-target as always...the film is beautifully photographed with Oscar winning production and costume design from Catherine Martin that serve Lurhmann and Craig Pearce's screenplay to maximum effect. The film is worth seeing if you've never seen any other version of this story, but I wish Luhrmann might have put more trust in the power of F. Scott Fitzgerald that he didn't feel the need to enhance this classic story with a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Baz Luhrmann has always been a director obsessed with the visual...a director who seems to prefer flash over substance at times, not always trusting that his source material is strong enough to stand on its own power. This has never been more apparent than in his 2013 re-thinking of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
This third theatrical version of the classic Fitzgerald novel begins with Nick Carroway (Tobey Maguire) talking to a doctor who suggests that he recount in writing his relationship with an enigmatic neighbor named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), a billionaire who lives in a huge mansion and throws elaborate parties on a regular basis that everyone in Manhattan attends but Nick doesn't show up until he receives a written invitation. Nick then learns the reason that he has been befriended by this lonely millionaire is that he wants to enlist Nick's help in reuniting with Nick's cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), a long lost love who is now married to Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton), but Gatsby doesn't seem to care about that or even consider it an issue.
As he always does, Luhrman creates a vivid and striking atmosphere that is deliciously appealing. He makes New York in the roaring 20's seem like the only time and place that was ever worth living and makes sure the view never feels like an outsider looking in...he puts us directly in the center of what is happening and makes us immediately care about these characters and question their motivations as well.
I have never seen the 1949 version with Alan Ladd as Gatsby but I have seen the 1974 version with Robert Redford as Gatsby and that is the primary difference between this version and that version, the way the character of Gatsby is presented. In the '74 version, Gatsby is portrayed as a little obsessive and self-absorbed, but Luhrmann gives us a Gatsby who is more than obsessed...this Gatsby seems more than a little obsessed with Daisy and displays possible mental issues that might be due to PTSD from Gatsby's time in the military, an issue that was glossed over in the '74 version and in Fitzgerald's novel, but Luhrmann chose to put it front and center as the through line for the character, making certain things the character does cringe-worthy.
It is this part of DiCaprio's performance that really works...watch him in the scene where he has Nick's house turned upside down for Daisy's first visit and is waiting on her arrival...he's like a ticking time bomb. Or when he tells Nick that Daisy has to tell Tom that she never loved Tom. Gatsby is not satisfied with Daisy loving him now, he is only happy with Daisy telling Tom she NEVER loved him and this I think the "a-ha" moment for Daisy when even she realizes this man is not all there. The rest of DiCaprio's performance, anything that has nothing to do with Daisy, is a little affected and stagy...the way he says the phrase "Old Sport" really grated on my nerves.
Tobey Maguire's wide-eyed sincerity was perfect for the role of Nick and Carey Mulligan made an enchanting Daisy. Joel Edgerton is effective as Tom, even though the character comes off dumb as a box of rocks (preferred Bruce Dern in the '74 version), but I loved Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker and Isla Fisher as the tragic Myrtle Wilson.
Luhrmann's creative team is on-target as always...the film is beautifully photographed with Oscar winning production and costume design from Catherine Martin that serve Lurhmann and Craig Pearce's screenplay to maximum effect. The film is worth seeing if you've never seen any other version of this story, but I wish Luhrmann might have put more trust in the power of F. Scott Fitzgerald that he didn't feel the need to enhance this classic story with a lot of smoke and mirrors.