Movie Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby (PG-13) A gem from Australian director Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge,” “Romeo + Juliet”), this pumped-up take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American masterpiece of the same title, arrives guaranteed to shock, awe and satiate its audience. Brilliantly shot in astonishing colors with exactingly creative shots enhanced by the latest 3D technology, the scenes of the lavish extravagance of the lifestyle of the noveau riche of the Roaring Twenties affront the audience with unabashed excesses. Luhrmann and cast quickly capture the viewers and we feel as if we are about to attend to the party of a lifetime. You can almost sense the champagne bubbles popping on your nose as the tale unfolds.

Daisy’s cousin, Nick Carraway (Tobey Mcguire), a young reporter from the Midwest, narrates the tale of millionaire Jay Gatsby (Leonardo diCaprio) and his love, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). It is through Nick’s eyes that we are privy to the world of Jay Gatsby, including forbidden love, lavish excess, tragedy, debauchery, bootleg liquor and the glitzy atmosphere permeating the Roaring Twenties of wealthy Americans.

A modern take on Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” (1925), this 2013 adaptation is much more avant guarde, and more appealing, than the 1974 film starring Robert
Redford and Mia Farrow, and directed by Jack Clayton. The soundtrack alone is
enough to make you immediately stop and take notice. Luhrmann’s now recognizable technique of inserting bold, anachronistic tunes rises to new heights with the creative genius of the film’s music producer Anton Monsted. The ambitious and well-received soundtrack has been rapidly climbing the music charts as artists like Will.i.am, Jay-Z, Fergie, Lana Del Rey, Nero and a host of modern artists bring the Jazz Age a little closer to 2013 with hip-hop beats and pop styles in both new tracks and covers of hits from the Twenties. 

Note: In an effort to keep down the filming expenses, the movie’s creators “moved” New York to Australia. The bottom line still ran around $100M.

4/4 stars