Fantastic but only if you love Fitzgerald AND Luhrman

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2013)

Over the top-yes, reminiscent of Moulin Rouge, of course. Faithful to the book, yes to the extent I remember it and in all important details. Flawed, I don't really think so.
One cannot talk about this movie without deciding first of all if Baz Luhrmann's over the top style is appropriate. For the essence of the Roaring Twenties I think he was the perfect choice to direct. For the musical score i thought the hip hop rap techno captured the excess quite nicely even if it took a moment to orient myself to the music.
As in Moulin Rouge with Paris Luhrmann doesn't even come close to giving anything but a comic book view of New York City but what a comic book it was. But nothing of that matters as the real star of the show is the enigmatic Gatsby perfectly delivered by Leonardo DiCaprio.
For me it all worked the final scenes played as my memory said they should. When the credits rolled it was time to just sit in awe. Greatness at the price of a Sunday matinée.