This film baffles me.

Rating: 3/10 (10 December 2013)

I hate this movie. So much. Lets start of with what I enjoyed. As usual, with a Baz Lurhman film, the visuals are pretty darn good. The sets are captivating, the lighting really gives a unique sense of atmosphere, and mood, and the camera-work is really just inspired. Lurhman might not be able to direct, but he is a really good cinematographer. The casting, for the most part, is pretty spot on. In particular, Leonardo Di Caprio is an inspired choice for Gatsby, and Joel Edgerton encompasses the role of Tom Buchanan quite well. Some scenes of this movie are handled very well, the standout scene being that of Gatsby's murder. The use of slow motion, and close ups really does enhance the drama of the scene. However, I will say that the shot of George Wilson putting the gun to his mouth nearly made me burst into laughter. I'm not sure if it could have been done differently, but it just seemed so comical.
Now to what I dislike about this movie. Firstly, the use of narration. The character of Nick is used as a narrator, to give exposition, or idiot monologues to the audience. Lurhman's use of this breaks the number one rule of story telling; show, don't tell, as the narrations treat the audience like idiots. For example, the symbolism of Dr. TJ Eckleberg is blatantly explained by Nick as "A god overlooking the city". The narration takes away all the power and gravitas of the symbol, as it removes the audiences ability to think, and draw their own conclusions to the symbol. But damn it, audiences don't need to think for themselves, do they? This kind of narration punctuates the film throughout it's entirety, and it disrupts the flow of the movie, and removes a lot of the complexity.
The editing is also a nightmare. Here's a fun game to play for you: try and find a shot in the film that lasts for more than 5 seconds. During some of the dialog scenes, such as the dinner party at the beginning of the film, and Gatsby and Nick's conversation in the car, I actually felt nauseous watching it. The shots flick back and forth, like the editor had ADHD or something, and it removes the audience's ability to focus on anything in the scene. If some of the shot's just lingered for a few more seconds, we would be able to focus on what is in the picture, and actually appreciate how well Lurhman sets up his shots.
Finally, the part of the movie that I absolutely despise the most: the soundtrack. The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920's, also known as the Jazz Era. Note the name "Jazz Era". As implied, this is an era famed for it's jazz music, perhaps one of the most important eras for music in American history. This is not an era devoid of music. So why in the world does this movie's soundtrack include the likes of Lana Del Rey, Fergie, and Coldplay? Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against these artist's work. But it is just incredibly hard to believe that Gatsby's extravagant parties are set in the 1920's when all I can hear is Jay-Z in the background, rapping about bitches and hoes. At the very least, the artists should have at least tried to sound like jazz music. The combination of modern day club music and a 1920's aesthetic is probably the most baffling part of this movie. If Lurhman went through all this effort to create a believable 1920's New York setting, then why would you include modern day music as a soundtrack? If the producer Jay-Z insists on creating a modern day soundtrack, then why not update the movie's setting to a modern day context? Either options would have worked perfectly fine. A fully committed jazz era setting? Probably would have been hailed as a nostalgic tribute to the days of old. A fully realized modernization? Probably could have been lauded as a critique of modern day society's hedonism, and materialism, and a great tribute the F Scott Fitzgerald's magnum opus.
I hate this movie. Hate hate hate. The storytelling is lazy, and frankly, seems to assume I'm an idiot. The visuals, whilst complex and beautiful, are never given the opportunity to sink in, and show the beauty of the shot. And the soundtrack, good god, the soundtrack. The only reason I'm not giving the movie a full 1 star review, is the stellar cast, and entertaining visuals. Baz Lurhman is an incredibly cinematographer, but that is where he should stay. Frankly, this man cannot tell a story, and he cannot direct.