an excellently adapted piece of art from the original

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2016)

It's delighting that the movie provides an authentic representation of what the novel is supposed to be. The vibrancy, tempo and narration closely resemble of those dating back to the 20th century Hollywood films, bringing the most of a departed time. I adore the fact that several key prose were made into dialogues and narrative lines; however, the screenplay writers seem to refrain from inserting complex prose that in fact add vivid connotations to the novel. Although this decision is justifiable because the movie should be able to reach to a wide audience as a commercial movies, I can't stop myself but indulge in a rueful smile of a possibility the the essence of this piece of literature can be weaved into another form of art.
The characters are brilliantly portrayed; I doubt if any of them is misleadingly or falsely depicted. This is expected from an experienced and renowned cast like this. Nevertheless, leaving some details out in order for the movie to span a controllable amount of time deprives some key personalities of certain characters (Jordan Baker was not said to cheat in her golf tournament, the romance between Caraway and Baker is not illustrated). Even though inconsequential to the main themes and story lines, the satisfactory feeling is lessened by such small setbacks like these.
I was a little bit disturbed when the script makes Gatsby outraged at the scene in town when Gatsby confronted Tom Buchanan about his affair with Daisy Buchanan. Little does this addition significantly alter the portrayal of Gatsby, yet I still find it unjustifiable to cast in a more negatively-inclined light.
The music complements the movie impeccably. A whole range of my favourite artists constitute to the soundtrack: Florence + the Machine, Amy Winehouse, Sia and Lana Del Rey. I always see a thread connecting their music style together. The Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin fits perfectly into the context, bringing home the idea of the cosmopolitan and glamorous life of an American in the 20th century. Essentially the characteristic of Jazz is of utmost importance.