Fitzgerald Passes It Over to Luhrmann The "Great" Great Gatsby.

Rating: 10/10 (23 June 2013)

It's usually on the second viewing of any film that I turn from the innocent audience member into the scrutinizing critic. I save the first viewing for total absorption in the movie. My first viewing of The Great Gatsby was quite an euphoric experience. Nevertheless, I don't expect everyone to love the movie the way I did because at the end of the day it's a matter of tastes and interests. All I'm trying to do here is to give you some reasons why I think Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby is an exceptional film.
Let's start from F. Scott Fitzgerald's book. Most people have read the novel at some point in their lives. The Great Gatsby stands as a literary landmark in the history of American literature because it not only incarnates Fitzgerald' smart and swift style but also levels harsh criticism against the American highlife in the early twentieth century and iconically presents the complexity of the human psyche. Whether you like or hate the novel, do not let your judgment transform to prejudice, because Luhrmann's adaptation is a unique work of art that uses its literary source merely as a preliminary structure. That's why I will not get into useless comparisons and contrasts.
The film has the unmistakable, authentic stamp of Baz Luhrmann an audio-visual feast for the senses. The extraordinarily picturesque quality of the film gives the story a visual edge that doesn't exist in the original text. Luhrmann's exuberant camera movements and his use of luscious colors and extravagant visual techniques create a sensuous atmosphere and succeed in conveying the lavish lifestyle of the American upper-class. Regarding the music (which I believe is not less important than direction, performance.. etc.), Luhrmann follows his genius habit of mashing up modern music and customizing it to old settings. In The Great Gatsby, his musical choices are BRILLIANT in the sense that they cover a wide range of genres including jazz and hip-hop (I never thought that one project would bear the names of both Fitzgerald and Jay Z!). The songs fit the film and its themes perfectly. They also give the story human depth and help in extending the movie horizontally by relating the mad 1920s to our 21st century. Honestly, the soundtrack needs a review of its own. Having a character of their own and contributing to the significance of the story, Lurhmann's image and music both join hands in fully engaging the audience's senses and hearts.
Leonardo DiCaprio was outstanding! Do I need to say more? The guy never seizes to surprise me with his ever-maturing acting skills and his great selectivity (I still can't believe he's the same Jack Dawson I used to despise). Not many actors are capable of choosing their roles that wisely. In the film, DiCaprio breathes life into Fitzgerald's tragic hero and manages to capture all his charm and misery. Similarly, Joel Edgerton stands out as the oppressively dominating Tom Buchanan. As for Carey Mulligan (playing Daisy), I do believe she is a beautiful and talented actress; however, I don't think she was the right one for the role. She shows an overacted emotional involvement that contradicts with her character's deeds. The rest of the cast were definitely lovely.
Back to Luhrmann, I believe that he deserves more credit for his bold choices and his ability to defy all the snobbish voices that frown upon modern adaptations of canonical literary works. His first adaptation, Romeo+Juliet, made his point clear. His second, The Great Gatsby, sets his own cult.
Again, I don't expect anyone to love the film the way I did. But for me, a good film is the one that makes you hate going back to reality after watching it... the one that makes you wish it lasted a bit longer. Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby is definitely one.