On balance...better than I'd expected

Rating: 7/10 (29 May 2015)

I was happy to consider this movie because of DiCaprio and the source material; but I had some nervousness too, because I'm not a great fan of Baz Luhrmann's previous fare. Indeed, there are times when the counter-contemporary music takes away from the experience, but it's not constant and didn't leave me with lasting disappointment. It is all a bit 'Busby Berkley' at times with some of the set pieces looking a little too staged and unbelievable for my liking. I get the creativity and splendour of what was in Luhrmann's vision, but with a period like the 20's - I don't think we need too much more glitter than was the case anyway. The positives outweigh these concerns though - DiCaprio is mysterious and enigmatic throughout and the supporting cast perform perfectly and compliment the visuals to create an eye-catching experience. Toby McGuire plays a cautious character, but grows in stature as the plot progresses - eventually standing as the only principled individual of the piece. So Baz - I'm not convinced that everything you do adds to the plot in a positive way, but on balance the experience of watching The Great Gatsby is one worth having.