The Great Gatsby: The great American novel is immortalized on the silver screen once again. This time from the hands of Baz Luhrmann (Romeo+Juliet). Everyone knows the book from high school but, if you don't, I'm sure everyone else has told you all about it since the first trailer for this highly anticipated film hit every commercial break. The American Dream is something that is within reach for every citizen no matter what walk of life he or she may come from and the novel, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, for which this movie finds its namesake is said to be the greatest illustration of this phenomenon. There is a reason this piece of literature is called "the great American novel" but Luhrmann's latest movie is not the place to look when wondering why.
As I mentioned earlier, if you watch TV then you know the players that are dealt with in The Great Gatsby. Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) and his awkward, innocent self plays the protagonist, Nick Carraway. Living right next door to the star himself, Nick is a scholar-turned- bondsman that keeps to himself and, if he gets bored, can always look across the bay at his cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) and her husband, Nick's former school mate, Tom (Joel Edgerton). Everyone that lives in the West Egg/East Egg area (or any part of New York for that matter) has heard of a man they call "Gatsby" and his lavish parties filled with every person on the red carpet as well as the phonebook. His mansion is more like a castle that could fit the White House inside and would give William Randolph Hearst a run for his money. Well since I've mentioned the others, without further ado ladies and gentlemen, the man, the myth, the legend--Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. We see a complicated individual with a bottomless wallet and hides some kind of past that is up for controversy. A man who is as mysterious as his wealth but enjoys to sit back and spend money. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous character that will call you "old sport", if your worth talking to, and will grant any favor for any friend. DiCaprio fully embodies the fame that precedes Jay Gatsby's character but, sadly, this is all over shadowed by Hollywood trying too hard to impress the audience.
The cinematography and bold, beautiful colors may look dazzling to the naked eye (seeing this in 3D would be cool, maybe) but it seems Baz Luhrmann has put forth all his energy in making the American Dream truly appear as a dream, and for that he gets a "D" for effort. Sure, it was fun for the flappers and teenagers to drink and rebel during the 1920s, but adding a soundtrack with hip-hop hits afrom Jay-Z and Kanye West is not the way to convey this notion. *Not a spoiler alert* Mr. Fitzgerald probably rolled over in his grave during one party scene in particular where Nick Caraway decides to let loose and, apparently, drops the bass.
Carey Mulligan (Drive) and Leonardo DiCaprio steal [what's left of] the show and suck the viewers in during the more serious parts of the film that are easier to take seriously. Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty) gives a commendable effort given the circumstances of sharing the screen with said talents and Tobey Maguire is cast well as Nick but does not seem to change much in character from Peter Parker in Spider-Man. The rest of the emotional supporting cast includes Jason Clarke (Lawless) and Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) who have their own problems as the Wilson couple. There is a reason this is such a great story about what has become of the American Dream, and this film is not the answer to this classic. Grade: 6.5/10
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