Rocky Horror Remake

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2014)

This movie is the fifth remake. I'll compare it with the 1974 version with Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby, Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan, Bruce Dern as Tom Buchanan, Karen Black as Myrtle Wilson and Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway.
Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan did a memorable performance. He was the real star of the picture. His character was quite complex and volatile. Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby was much more interesting than Redford. Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway was spot on. However, Isla Fisher as Myrtle Wilson played her role as a frivolous Kewpie doll, hardly one to inspire passion. Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan had as much sparkle as an overcooked noodle. Perhaps they wanted that blandness to help explain her reaction to her later hit and run. It made no sense two men would be fighting over her. She was just a pretty face.
The first half of the movie reminded me of Rocky Horror Picture Show -- huge numbers of people dancing wildly in bizarre costumes suggesting sexual abandon to come. I expected 1920's period costumes. Instead I got 1920's-inspired costumes, wildly imaginative and dazzling. The makeup and hairstyles too were 1920's inspired, but much more glamorous than anything you would actually have seen in the period. I got 1920's- inspired dancing that was a cross between the Charleston and hip hop. I wanted 1920's music. I got a fusion of 1920's and various other surprising genres.
DiCaprio is the picture of a billionaire with his immaculate pale pink suit and not a hair out of place. He just exudes wealth and confidence. However, he was a little young to be believable in the role.
For the second half, the movie then settled in to straight-forwardly telling the story of adultery and unbridled passion which at the time was much more of a big deal than it is today.
The movie probes the relationship between Gatsby and Nick much more deeply than in 1974, constantly asking why is Gatsby so interested in Nick? It never answers. Gatsby is clearly heterosexual, obsessed with Daisy. I think he just needs someone without treachery as a friend almost like a pet person. Nick is bedazzled by Gatsby's wealth and power.