An extravaganza - a very detailed update with some miscasting

Rating: 7/10 (11 June 2013)

This is a modern re-imagining of the Great Gatsby. It works and doesn't in some ways. The most modern aspect of this movie is the over the top cgi mansions and parties with 21st century music. Gatsby's mansion was a bit hideous looking. While the scenery is quite magical in it's own way, the music was a mistake. It would have been better to use 20s music with a modern interpretation instead of the rock rap style music.
The screenplay takes great pains to clearly lay out the whole story very explicitly both in background of the characters and the plot events. That is one of the strong points. The dramatic Plaza scene is well done.
The casting consisted of some good choices and some bad choices. Carey Mulligan is much prettier here than in other movies like Wall Street 2 - she looks good in the period costumes and acts movingly vulnerable and weak enough for the role. Tobey is a boyish but quite suited. Leonardo is earnest but his face is a bit puffy. He isn't 100% convincing but it's a difficult role - none of his predecessors was perfect either - Robert Redford was wooden, Toby Stephens scowling. The main miscasting was Joel Edgerton who looked more like a thug than a blue blooded moneyed scion. He could have been Myrtle's husband instead. Doesn't look like he could have swept Daisy off her feet. Some one more preppy looking would have been better. Casting the Bollywood actor as Meyer the Jewish businessman was another distracting mistake.
For a more realistic version, the Mia Farrow Robert Redford movie is a "grown up" version compared with Baz's update. The scenery on location in Newport feels more authentic.
Overall it's worth a watch for the spectacle.