Too much gloss does not make a good movie

Rating: 6/10 (17 May 2013)

Not all than shines is gold and that could not be truer that "The great Gatsby". To be fair no one can deny the ambiance of this film which puts us right in the roaring 1920's New York. Well made and fast paced it will transport the audience to a bygone era, which is as good as it can get.
The problem is that its over-reliance on the A list cast to deliver did not work, as far as quality is concerned because there is no doubt in me, it will do well in the box office. A shiny retro looking Di Caprio, Maguire and Mulligan, who arguably played well, could not give this initiative the wow factor. In my quest for substance beyond the gloss and glamour I found none.
There were moments in this film, I could not help but think: "where is this heading?" ....and such thoughts are never constructive. The fact alone that it left me with a sense of indifference regarding the outcome, only shows that it failed to be an effective movie.
On the effectiveness side, it must be pointed out that putting contemporary R&B/Hip Hop music on a retro film was an utter disaster; it was like having Hercules dancing on Vanilla Ice. Bad idea all around.
Undoubtedly, a very typical Hollywood project that does not do the classic novel much justice being a mildly pleasant experience that is it best to not watch with plenty of expectation.