Review 312: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a colossal failure of a film, a textbook example of how not to adapt a literacy work and undoubtedly Baz Luhrmann's worst film.

Based on the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, In the summer of 1922, Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leo DiCaprio). Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await. 

The way the plot has been written is hopelessly messed up, I haven't read the book so I can't tell how faithful it is to the book. But the way the story is told is so lifeless, soulless and lackluster, it boared me to death, I wanted to go to sleep. 

Nothing interesting happens throughout the movie and you don't care for the characters or any of their actions of of the books description of the downfall of the American Dream or the breakdown of class differences or of the excesses of the rich, and recklessness of youth as well as human aspiration to start over again, social politics and its brutality and also betrayal, of one's own ideals and of people and the all of that is drowned as a result by visually striking by flashy visuals and production design. 
It's basically all style and no substance.

Writer/Director Baz Luhurman's direction is weak, the production and costume designs are flashy and ostentatious (they just looked so exaggerated), the visuals are equally flashy and detract from the overall film and the props are over the top.
On the plus side, the make up is pretty good, the scenery is extravagant and the score by Craig Armstrong is magnificent.

The acting is actually pretty good, Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher among others give pretty good performances and manage to rise above the material they're given.

Leo DiCaprio beautifully captures the sauve, the charisma and the enterprise that Jay Gatsby needs to be believable onscreen. The character as a whole is mainly a metaphor the failure of the American Dream. He has all this wealth but he has no happiness and DiCaprio portrays that expertly.

I actually Tobey Maguire was pretty good in the film, he's young, inquisitive and a war vetran turned Uni graduate and aspires for greatness and looks up to Jay Gatsby as some sort of a mentor and someone to guide him to that greatness. Whilst Jay Gatsby is a metaphor for the fall of the American Dream Nick is a metaphor for the recklessness of youth and the human aspiration to start over again.

Carey Mulligan is also good as Daisy, she's attractive and effervescent, but shallow and self-absorbed and I though she captured those traits effectively. She wants it all but can't, she's in love with Jay but she's married to her husband Tom (Joel Edgerton).

Joel Edgerton is effective as Tom, Daisy's husband, he was so scary and imposing and arrogant. You really get the sense he's a rude guy and guy you don't want to get on your bad side.

Elizabeth Debicki is sexy (both in verbal and physical performance) as Jordon Baker, she defiantly captures the characters seductive nature and aloof albeit cynical personality, she has a shady reputation and a penchant for untruthfulness and she's not afraid to get what she wants.

Isla Fisher is also great in the film as Myrtle Wilson, she desperately wants to escape her complacent marriage but it doesn't end well for her.

Also the the rest of cast is great with an honerable mention being Jason Clarke.

The Great Gatsby is a colossal mess that is only partially redeemed by some good performances.

Please comment and subscribe, 1.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.