Fitzgerald's masterpiece shown in lavish Luhrmann style

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2014)

Having known that The Great Gatsby was going to be adapted yet again to cinema and that Leonardo DiCaprio was going to star as the lead, I immediately felt obliged to read the novel by Scott Fitzgerald. It was definitely worth the read and then I found myself even more excited to watch it. When I finally got the chance I got the feeling that most of the essence of the original story was brought to the screen. As for the other aspects, and some people actually had problems with this, they combined to give us the entertainment that movies are supposed to provide. Ranging from the modern day soundtrack to the computerized shots of 1920's New York, everything fell into place to give us a thrilling ride. I like to think that the music and the extravagant production provide a comparison as to how the parties of Gatsby and overall the fun spirit of the 20's would be like today.
DiCaprio proves once again that he is one of the best actors working today and the intense feelings he brings to Gatsby are a joy to watch. Carey Mulligan makes for a sweet Daisy and serves well as the object of Gatsby's desires. Tobey Maguire is competent as Nick Carroway, the narrator of the story. He is taken in by this world and leaves it disgusted. Joel Edgerton plays a despicable Tom Buchanan who you hate more and more as the movie progresses. The overall tone of the film just grabbed me and never let go. I enjoyed seeing this lavish production, I enjoyed watching these performances, and yes I even enjoyed the music.
My perception of the film may differ from more older audience members. In my opinion most of the heart and soul of the book was captured, and that combined with all the over the top scenes and electronic based music was all I needed to enjoy it. I recommend it to anyone looking to see this classic story come to live in a more modern setting.
Rating 8/10