Film review (4)

THE GREAT GATSBY

Details:

Country: Australia | USA

Language: English

Release Date: 16 May 2013 (Russia)

Genres: Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords: tragedy | auto accident | 1920s | mansion | bond broker 

Budget: $105 000 000 (estimated)

Runtime: 142 min

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Writers: Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce(screenplay).

Stars:Leonardo Di Caprio, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire.

 REVIEW

The novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a favourite book of many people. There are enough film versions of the novel. So nobody expect anything extraordinary from “Gatsby” except variegated decorations and splendid special effects. But these are not the main things, what is more important is the script and the work of actors. I think the film is succeeded in both aspects.

Literary adaptations are always difficult to execute perfectly, partially due to the variety of interpretations that  readers have on a particular text, partly because not all screen viewers have even read the literature. The film contradicts itself in its collision between incessant noises, artsy visuals and disloyalty, and then eventual credibility through dramatic action and characterization.

The film throws such a variety of information at us that we cannot appreciate or take notice of anything in particular. The Great Gatsby becomes a more endurable, peaceful and in fact quite magnificent drama film. You finally, although it is behind schedule, are introduced to these wonderfully broken souls. These lost, tragic, misunderstood souls are portrayed quite phenomenally by an exceptionally talented cast.

 Leonardo DiCaprio is Jay Gatsby (With Leonardo DiCaprio's talent and persona, I could think of no one else who could have played Gatsby's role better; he sustains the shades and elements of the character quite naturally.); Carey Mulligan is Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan plays the attractive, but self-centered and shallow, character of Daisy with such beauty and grace.); Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway ( Tobey Maguire is excellent as Carraway, and his brilliant narration helps in bringing the feel of Fitzgerald's lyrical prose.); Joel Edgerton is Tom Buchanan; and that's not just because the credits tell us so, it is due to their ownership over their respective roles and fulfilment of our expectations of their literary description.

The movie enthralled me with its spectacularly breathtaking visuals and strong soundtrack. Lana Del Rey's 'Young and Beautiful' is powerfully beautiful, and certainly deserves some awards. Coming back to the visuals, Luhrmann pays so much attention to the details from a character's dress to the carpets to the chandeliers - everything is colourful and extravagant. But this same attention to detail becomes a drawback as the emotional and intimate scenes lose some of their intensity behind these picturesque details. But other than that, the story is told quite well keeping with the pace and suspense of the piece; the mystery is maintained quite well.

Like Gatsby himself, the film is introduced as a perplexing mystery, and much like the film itself, you contemplate on how much you think, you know and  understand. So enjoy this great film, thank heavens for Baz Luhrmann..