The Great Gatsby

Rating: 10/10 (13 May 2013)

The Great Gatsby, based upon the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is probably a book a lot of you, or at least most of you, probably read in one of your high school English classes. I was in a split class one year, where one grade was taking the novel and the other one was not, so unfortunately to this day I have never read the book, but as a treat for the class the teacher showed both grades in the split class the 1974 film version of the novel by Jack Clayton, and starring Robert Redford, and Mia Farrow. Most of the class, well pretty much all of it, really disliked the film, but I was one of the few who really enjoyed it. To this day the only Fitzgerald novel that I have read is Tender is the Night, and I also saw the 1985 television miniseries of the novel with Peter Strauss, and Mary Steenburgen, and I quite enjoyed it. Part of me was somewhat concerned about this new Gatsby version with it's pricey budget and the fact that it was shot in 3D and also delayed in release a couple of months for re-shoots. Fortunately, the film met and surpassed all of my expectations. What, I really loved about the film was not the 3D look, or feel to it, which was okay, but I found neither added, or really took anything away from the film, but what I really loved was the general message that Fitzgerald and the screenwriters were trying to say with this film and I suppose with the original novel as well. Gatsby, is such a mysterious person who throws huge lavish parties that must cost a fortune and all the big names and socialites in town are there, partying it up and having a great time, but few really know Gatsby, or even what he looks like. How, Gatsby got through to an average everyday man like Nick Carraway, is in it's own way fascinating and kind of heartfelt as well. We see Gatsby, as a mighty man with a vast fortune and power and he can pretty much do anything he wants, or acquire, or buy anything with a price tag on it, but the one thing that he does not have and which I think is sorely lacking in his life and he knows it, is love. He puts on heirs, dresses in the best clothes and throws these huge parties, but I think in a sense this is all trying to compensate for his loneliness and to buy approval from others. He is never really thanked for his parties and nobody ever really seems to make too big a fuss about him until Nick comes along. We can see why Nick is so much in adoration of Gatsby. He learns of Gatsby's tales and how he made a name for himself in the world, but is humble and kind deep down and really in need of friendship and love. There was one scene in the film, that I can not say too much about because I do not want to give it away, but it revolves around the reunion between two characters in this film and just the way the scene is set up with the direction, acting, music and the way it was scripted really hit home for me. Not so much because I have been in a similar situation, but because this situation that the characters had between each other felt real, somewhat awkward and at the same time, beautiful. I was extremely moved on several different occasions during this film and I do not think the tender emotion, or some of Fitzgerald's philosophies and character critiques were lost here in translation with the big budget and with the 3D. The film in it's own way is very sad in it's own right as well and what is especially sad about these scenes and events are because it is so typical of mankind and society, not just at that period of time, but throughout the ages and even happening this very day. How some people just crave money and living the life of luxury and fame and wealth and how they do not care who they hurt, or how they go about getting there. Gatsby, with all his wealth and fame, still remains humble and an exceptional human being, but the others around him are all unfortunately in it for themselves and nobody else, which ultimately ends up with the sad part of the film and the heartbreak. The Great Gatsby, works so well because even though it takes place in the 1920's it could really take place anytime because it's theme and message is one that still rings true to this day. Heroes, antiheroes and everyday people are shown here, warts and all and I loved that about the film. The film looks epic and lush and is pleasing to the eye, the acting is all very impressive as is the direction and adapted screenplay. It shows the downside to America at that time and time over the decades and that unfortunately sometimes nice guys do really finish last. An excellent expose of human nature as well as an emotionally moving and entertaining journey through that. One of the year's best.