Hits with DiCaprio--Misses with Mulligan and music

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2013)

I have long wondered why DiCaprio has not yet received an Academy Award. I continue to do so. The first performance in which he probably should have won was Gilbert Grape. After seeing his performance I am awed by his range. In Great Gatsby he could show confidence, despair, and vulnerability whenever called for. Few actors have the depth of range that DiCaprio possesses. There have been many who have received the Academy Award that he can act circles around. He became Gatsby the poor boy who dreamed of making it big and reclaiming his lost love.
The cinematography was wonderful. The acting by Toby Maguire and Joel Edgerton was spot on.
Mulligan is a fine actress, BUT she fell short in this role. This is going to sound ugly, but they never should have dress her in the low-cut dress revealing she has more moles than Carter has pills. That was a total turn off when she was suppose to look seductive and appealing. In most of the rest of the shoot they managed to hide her little weakness. She came close but fell just short of the mark in making me believe that she could totally bewitch someone like J. Gatsby.
The music also did not match what one would expect for the movie. I suppose that the movie was trying to relate to present day youth, but it was wrong for the movie. I appreciate J.Z.'s attempt, but I didn't think it worked.