An absorbing and entertaining tour de force of artistry and film making that succeeds on many levels.

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2013)

For a while yesterday I'd been wondering whether or not to postpone going to see The Great Gatsby, tempted as I was by the significant amounts of blue sky and sunshine outside. Once the film started, and for the next two hours and twenty something minutes, my thoughts never once strayed to the weather outside. Within minutes of the start I, like Nick Carraway (the film's narrator), was being drawn into the sumptuously glamorous world of 1920's New York high society. The film making is simply astounding. At times the screen seemed filled from corner to corner with both elegance and frivolity. This is, however, a film that's most certainly not 'all visual spectacle' though. Several of the film's main characters were developed in sufficient detail to allow me to form meaningful opinions about them. Without wishing to give away too much, I found The Great Gatsby to have elements of a love story, a tragedy and (last but not least) a critique of a way of life having strong parallels with what is happening (in certain sections of society) in present times. Acting and cinematography are top notch. The 3D is cool. Some of my favourite actors and actresses are in it (DeCaprio, Isla Fisher) as well as some new ones I was impressed by (Elizabeth Debicki). Oh, and did I mention the music? I was the last person out of the auditorium. I simply had to stay and listen 'til the very end of the credits just to hear as much as possible of the amazing musical score. (Make sure you stay for Sia Furler singing Kill and Run at the very end of the credits.) OK. I think I've prattled on enough. I loved it and can't wait to see it again before it ends its run. Films don't come better than this (at least for me that is).