The Great Gatsby

I have to confess that I’ve been anticipating this film for quite some time now, and I was beyond excited to get a chance to see it in 3D on its opening night. That being said, I also have to admit that, as an avid fan of both the novel, the previous film version starring Robert Redford in the title role, and even the made-for-television A&E film version starring Paul Rudd as Nick, I was a bit disappointed by the new blockbuster film. While I feel like it’s a great film on its own, especially if you’re not familiar with the storyline and haven’t read the novel, I don’t feel like it does a great job of paying homage to the original work. I wasn’t expecting the film to adhere greatly to the novel or the previous film versions, and though the deviations from the original work are well-thought out and executed, I didn’t feel that the deviations tied in well and were cohesive with the rest of the framework of the film.

For example, while Leonardo DiCaprio did an absolutely stunning job of portraying the infamous Jay Gatsby in a darker, more obsessive and neurotic light, his portrayal of the tile character did not mesh well with the rest of the film. It was interesting to see that twist in the often-idolized character, and I felt like that character choice would have worked amazingly well if the rest of the film would have played off that angle. However, throughout the course of the film, as Tobey Maguire’s character acts as the narrator of this tragic tale, Gatsby is constantly referred to as a beacon of hope, an eternal optimist that has this striking ability to draw people to him, which is a stark contrast to the always-on-edge, hopelessly shattered man that DiCaprio embodies on the screen.

Another aspect of the film that really felt off to me was the choice of music. While I purchased the film’s soundtrack earlier this week and adore the album on its own, the music doesn’t seem to mesh well with the film. I can appreciate the attempt to inject modern tracks, such as a version of Beyoncé’s hit “Crazy in Love” and Jay-Z’s “100$ Bill,” with a jazzy, Roarin’ 20s twist, in the film, it just doesn’t come together well. There was also an incredibly awkward insertion of Jay-Z’s hit “Izzo (H.O.V.A.) “ that accompanied a driving scene, and there were multiple instances in which characters were slow-grinding and booty-popping in speakeasies and at Gatsby’s lavish parties, dance moves that I’m fairly certain were not done in 1920s-era New York.

Visually, The Great Gatsby was beautiful. The bright pops of color and high contrast really harkened back to the lavish luxury that characterizes the 1920s. While I’m not usually a fan of 3D films, I really enjoyed the subtle way that the 3D aspects were incorporated into the film. Pearls cascade, the symbolic green light is brought to life, and as Nick writes out the story of Gatsby, memorable phrases from the novel are written in cursive along the screen.

While the media has really harped on Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy, I felt that the true star of the film was Tobey Maguire in his role as Nick Carraway, an innocent bystander that gets sucked into the drama as the story unfolds. He was the only actor that felt truly believable as his character. While DiCaprio put an interesting twist on Gatsby, there were times when I felt his performance was too much, often to the point where he wasn’t relatable or believable as a character. Carey Mulligan was a great fit for the character of Daisy, but there wasn’t that crucial on-screen chemistry between her and DiCaprio, so it was difficult to become enveloped in the romantic aspect of the film. Another actor that really stood out to me was Isla Fisher as Myrtle. While her character is a relatively minor character in both the film and the novel, Fisher makes the most of the small role and brings a certain sass and outright sex appeal to the character, playing up the contrast between Myrtle and Daisy.

The additional backstory provided for Nick and how it serves as the framework for the film was another aspect that made the film stand out to me as a work all of its own. In this cinematic version, as a result of the events that occur, Nick begins the tale in a sanatorium and as a part of his therapy, he is encouraged to write in order to express his chaotic thoughts and emotions. In the end, the film comes full-circle as Nick completes the tale of his summer with the enigmatic Gatsby, unknowingly finishing the “great American novel” that he always hoped to write.

Overall, while I was a bit disappointed with some aspects of the film, I do not regret seeing it, and I would definitely recommend it.