Flaws Ruin What Should Have Been Truly Spectacular

Rating: 7/10 (14 September 2013)

To begin, I find it annoying that all anyone complains about is the music not fitting the times. I think that's one of the strong points of the film. I really don't like all the artists involved in the film (besides Jack White) but the music worked well. It shouldn't be a problem unless you believe that a movie needs to be 100% true to the source material.
I liked the visuals, too. It was all very cool, and it wasn't overdone to the point where it distracted from the story.
THE PROBLEM IS THE STORY ITSELF
Let's get something clear: if this movie would have been handed over to a great director... let's say David Fincher... in post-production it would have been movie of the year hands down.
The only thing that ruined the film was the editing. And yes, it RUINED it. It killed this film. The most aggravating part of it all is we all know by now this is just "a certain director" trying to pretentiously assert to us that he is "arty" and "edgy."
Which is fine, unless you destroy all sense of pace that the film has!
The pacing was just awful... especially in the first half.
It was edited so literally every thirty seconds the location changes. Meanwhile our narrator, Tobey Maguire, speed reads what seems like too much dialogue. It hurts to watch these scenes.
Everyone says the second half is better: and while it is, it's only because the acting was so strong it occasionally broke through the bad editing. Especially DiCaprio. This film could have been the highlight of his recent career. I honestly didn't feel as invested in the characters as I should have been. There were a few really well done scenes, and they only made me more angry at he bad one's.
Tobey Maguire is another problem. I don't think it's his fault. I think it's just the approach he decided to take or the director (sorry Baz but it has to be said) instructed him to take. He just wasn't that interesting or notable, with the exception of a few scenes where he works to his strong points. It's not good that the movie is centred and narrated by such a weak character.
While the acting and sets/animation are truly AMAZING, the flaws just kill the film. It's not the must-see movie of the year like it should have been, it's just a decent film.
Bottom line: Baz Luhrmann should not be allowed to work on post-production with the exception of special effects. He's a great director, visionary, and writer... but man he does not get pace. If you're doubting the importance of pace, go see this movie. Maybe then you'll understand.