The Great Gatsby

It may seem an extremely critical view of the current state of big cinematic releases to note that the market is somewhat saturated by adaptations of novels, graphic novels, comics and even games. So when it comes to the cinematic imagining of one of the most well-known and celebrated novels of the last century, everyone involved in the film really needs to make sure they're doing a good job of it. So, this time it was the turn of Baz Luhrmann to bring the life of luxury and excess of 1920s New Yorkers to the big screen, in his vision of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby.

So the basic upshot of the plot is that our narrator, Nick Carraway is a writer-turned-bonds salesman who takes up residency in the extremely wealthy area of Long Island, New York, becoming neighbour to a Mr. Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, who throws parties of legendary status at his enormous mansion every week. Gatsby reveals himself to Carraway, telling him that his the presumed-dead former lover of Carraway's cousin, who is now married and lives across the bay from Gatsby's home. Gatsby has spent the previous few years accumulating wealth and possessions to please Carraway's cousin Daisy, on the day when they are finally reuinted. However, things do not run smoothly, as Gatsby and Carraway must not only negotiate Daisy's husband Tom Buchanan, but also the increasingly shady side of 1920s New York.

The part of our narrator is played by Tobey Maguire, his Carraway is a gentle natured man who is being slowly exposed to the life of debauchery and excess led by the wealthy inhabitants of New York. He is welcoming and loyal to his friends throughout, and Maguire portrays this with a simple warm face at all almost all times. Even when he is thrust into situations which immediately make him uncomfortable, Carraway has the manner of a man curious to explore all that life has to offer him. The role of Daisy Buchanan is filled by Carey Mulligan, and she manages to give a performance which captures the spirit of a woman trapped and unsure, innocent and yet wise, she's the damsel in distress who seems oddly capable of saving herself anyway. But the star of the film is undoubtedly Leonardo DiCaprio, playing the eponymous Jay Gatsby. A notable moment comes upon Gatsby's revealing of himself to Carraway, complete with the memorable "smile" line from the novel; the smile delivered by DiCaprio is one which immediately imprints the entire nature of Gatsby on all who look at it, audience included, and such a feat is something worthy of serious praise, as it simply makes you happy to have seen it. DiCaprio portrays the character as a man ready to explode with passion and emotion, but who almost always keeps his cool, sophisticated front, all in the name of being the gentleman. He always looks genuine, even when we are not sure what his intentions are, or indeed who he really is; he immediately strikes us as somebody we would like to know, and who we would trust.

Stylistically speaking, there's one thing that needs to be pointed out straight away: this is a Baz Luhrmann film. The same Baz Luhrmann responsible for Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, so of course The Great Gatsby has it's own phenomenal sense of style about it. There are times where the movie has a film noir feel to it, particularly the scenes involving the "valley of ashes" and other seedier areas of New York. But the most impressive atmosphere-shaping feature of the picture is the use of music. Again, in true Luhrmann style, he takes songs which would never even be thought of in the time the story is set, and blends them into the action, meaning that the high class debauchery of Gatsby's parties is made instantly relevant, thanks to being soundtracked by what I can only call ridiculously cool remixes and covers of extremely modern music.

The story itself is both touching and gripping in places, although I must admit, I did find myself growing a little weary about how long it seemed to be taking for any form of resolution to plot to unfold. And this is the main criticism I had with the film on a whole; it seems to get lost in just how good it looks and sounds, that it is occasionally guilty of forgetting that it has a powerful story to present. The conflict between riches and romance is key in the plot, and yet we are sometimes left instead to gaze in awe at Gatsby's home, or to simply be captivated by the man himself. It could be argued that this is also the point of the character in the first place, as he has spent years of his life moulding himself into a perfect, successful gentleman, but it does ultimately prove a minor distraction from the actual content of the story.

3/5 - Enjoyable, and spectacular to see/hear, however, it is guilty of forgetting to actually get on with the point of the story, dragging out the process a little too long. DiCaprio is fantastic though, and is almost worth paying the price for your ticket by himself.