Stylish Adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald's Classic

Rating: 8/10 (6 July 2013)

The Great Gatsby
*** (out of 4)
142 mins/ 12
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jack Thompson, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debecki, Amitabh Bachchan, Richard Carter
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Plot: Bond-seller Nick Carraway, enters the world of his ambitious, big-spending neighbour, Jay Gatsby.
JJ's Verdict: When reviewing a film which is based on a book as popular and written about as F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic, The Great Gatsby, it is important to not review the plot and story, but the style and method in which it is represented. Despite saying this, the story is one of an epic tale of love, greed, ambition, obsession and tragedy. When mixed together, there is no doubt that your story and film, in this case, is a splendid one.
The film centres on Nick Carroway, a former writer turned bond-seller who, after moving into a small cottage on Long Island, becomes fascinated and lured into the lifestyle of his incredibly wealthy neighbour, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby, who has become obsessed with a former-lover, Daisy Buchanan who left him because he had struggled to earn a living, (who just happens to be Nick's cousin), persuades Nick to bring them together. From here, Nick becomes involved in their troublesome relationship which includes his admiration for Gatsby, Gatsby's obsession and life plan for Daisy, Daisy's struggle to choose between Jay and her husband Tom, Tom's troublesome relationship with his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, and Myrtle's working-class life with husband George. Call it a love hexagon!
The performances of these famous characters are mainly superb. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a knockout and extremely bold portrayal and, for possibly the first time, becomes completely cemented into his role and is Gatsby. The eventual fall and reveal of his criminal past is handled brilliantly by one of the finest actors of his generation. Tobey Maguire, who has struggled in fulfilling his supposed box-office star destiny since the conclusion of his Spider-Man series, gives a more likable and less showy role than something like Spider-Man 3. He is a wonderful narrator and you certainly feel for his character. Joel Edgerton gives a truly evil touch to Tom Buchanan and Carey Mulligan's Daisy manages to appear angel-like, when she actually isn't. In Baz Luhrmann's adaption of the story, he stays true to the story, but not to the style. This film is bursting with vibrant colours and precise visual detail, which just adds to the whole experience of a brilliant story. The film has a beautiful scope and epic feel to it and the cinematography is top-notch. Although it certainly isn't horrendous, having modern Jay-Z rap songs in the background of Gatsby's famous parties, can feel incredibly awkward at times. Gatsby's ambition, style and brilliant arrogance are an amazing achievement of literature. Now it is an amazing achievement of 21st century cinema. Gatsby is unnecessarily over the top in each and every frame but breathtaking in its masterful storytelling.