Quality Film

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2013)

As with many modern adaptions of classic work, there was a lot to live up to. The media hype surrounding the film was somewhat of an annoyance, and I can't help but feel it sullied my perception of the film somewhat before I had seen it.
With this said, I can say honestly that Gatsby has managed to live up to most, if not all, of the expectation placed upon it. Whilst not what I expected, the film presents a lavish representation of an even more lavish story. DiCaprio's performance is top notch, as is Toby McGuire's. McGuire is able to more than hold his own alongside DiCaprio, who's powerful performance conveys strongly the depth of Jay Gatsby as a character.
Luhrman's conveyance of Fitzgerald's world is very bombastic, and at times ventures away from the contextual reality of 1920's New York and into a world of colour, show and performance. Whilst this is mostly in tune with the hedonistic explorations of Fitzgerald, it does at times seem tacky and unnecessary. This results in some scenes feeling very staged as if a theater performance, with some dialogue seeming very forced. However, in light of this, I feel this is simply product of Luhrman's unique style, which for the most part makes for an enthralling watch.
Ultimately, the hyperbole of Luhrman's world serves to accentuate the stark contrasts present within Gatsby's world and highlight the ever present themes of idealism, opulence and materialism. The performances are all top notch and the setting is outstanding. A quality film by any standard, certainly worth a watch - for both those who have read the novel and those who haven't.