"Can’t repeat the past? Of course you can”
I never knew about Gatsby story before I watched the movie. I have no idea it’s a literature whatsoever and I was surprised by the depth of the story.
On the surface, it may tell us about an unattainable love story. However, it has much larger scope than just a simple boy meets girl story.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writers: Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce (screenplay), F. Scott Fitzgerald (book)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher
Summer 1922 NYC. “Back then, all of us drank too much... And none of us contributed anything new....The parties were bigger...The morals were looser and the ban on alcohol had backfired making the liquor cheaper”. The narrator has provided us the context where the story taken. It’s the era of decayed social and moral values, greed, and empty pursuit of pleasure, which full of parties and wild jazz music (JSUK, Al Capone, the famous mob boss in history, lived in that time).
Story
Nick realizes his neighbor is a mysterious, famous, and incredibly wealthy man name Gatsby (How awesome it’s that). Gatsby had a love affair with Daisy, Nick’s cousin, 5 years ago. But she chose to marry Tom Buchanan, a rich, old moneyed, brutal and unfaithful man, instead of Gatsby. In order to win her back, Gatsby made his fortune with illegal activities, including bootlegging. His extravagant lifestyle & wild parties are simply attempt to impress Daisy. The whole movie tells us about his ups and down for gaining Daisy’s love back. In the end of story, Gatsby died because wrong accusation. I’m surprised that Daisy didn't attend his funeral after all the things he did for her. It’s the heartbreaking point from the movie, how she’s capable to remove herself not only physically, but also psychologically from the tragedy.
I got me thinking. Daisy and Gatsby, both didn't deserve each other from the start. Gatsby’s Love to Daisy it’s an illusion, as her loves for him. For him, Daisy is the idea of beauty, sophistication, luxury, something that he's dreamed since a little boy. He embeds Daisy with such qualities which she neither deserves nor possesses. Furthermore, Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby quest for Daisy, ruined by her unworthiness, just like the American dream in the 1920s is ruined by the unworthiness of its object (money and pleasure).
The Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed Gatsby impeccably, as the charming, mysterious gentleman whose trademark is saying “old spor!”. You should see his false smiles, the phony handshakes, and the way he’s behaving in front of Daisy as awkward and clumsy person, it’s just fun to watch. My favorite scene from this movie is when He’s having tea with Daisy is. It’s so funny.
I love his character. His nerve, his frustration, his determination to transform his dream into the realty, all intrigues me. He is the self-made American man in every single way. Even though Gatsby is every bit of a liar can be, but we can’t help to love him. For the first 30 minutes, I've been waiting for this “legend” to come up on the screen, and when he did, DiCaprio captivated me throughout the movie. If there any flaws in here, perhaps it’s the lack of “truly hope” look from Gatsby. Even the scene in the dock where he talks to Nick about the future he wants with Daisy, where is it? where's the hopeful, optimist look? As “the most hopeful man Nick has ever met", all I can see from him it's despair and anger. Anyway, Here's the fun fact, Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play Gatsby so badly, because he was drawn to the idea of a man who came from absolutely nothing, who created himself solely from his own imagination.
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| Leonardo DiCaprio Portrays The Great Gatsby |
“Gatsby's one of those iconic characters because he can be interpreted in so many ways: a hopeless romantic, a completely obsessed wacko or a dangerous gangster, clinging to wealth."- Leo DiCaprio
Daisy. Carrey Mulligan is not what I expected of “golden girl” to be. As the object of Gatsby desire, I was thinking more about “classic beauty” if you know what I mean. However, I think she delivers her part perfectly as the spoiled, glamour, confused, faux innocent girl. Mulligan can certainly pull off pixie and carry the accent. She has the gesture and charms as any socialites from the jazz era would be I think. She was beautiful for him and that’s all what matter.
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| Carrey Mulligan portrays Daisy Buchanan |
Nick. Tobey Maguire acted poorly as Nick in my opinion. He’s too wide eyed, too awkward and uncomfortable throughout the movie. Nick, who supposed to be “the observer”, becomes the main figure on the movie, instead of Gatsby, somehow.
Tom Buchanan. What interesting is, Joel Edgerton actually steals the show here. How he acted as the self-absorbed, morally corrupted aristocrat who plays cool outside but afraid of losing his wife inside, is so convincing. He has status and wealth, and he's not about to give up his wife, to this bootlegger, new money Gatsby, without a fight. I definitely want to see more of Edgerton work. The more I watch the movie, the more I like his act.
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| Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan |
Visuals, sets, costumes
I’m a fan of Baz Luhrmann's work. I think Moulin Rouge is very entertaining. He paid so much attention to the details. Therefore, this movie is incredibly stunning visually. The costume designs, jewelry, the fur, the houses, the choreography, the parties you name it.
Soundtrack
When it comes to soundtrack, you can never doubt Luhrmann's work (See Moulin Rouge and Romeo&Juliet). However, I don’t like his took on rap music for this movie. In some scenes, it’s just too loud. I think the music should capture the spirit of the 1920s, without being too much. Anyway, The Great Gatsby Soundtrack, Young and Beautiful by Lana del Ray it’s so beautiful. It really describe Gatsby longing for Daisy. I love the scene where the song played into the jazz version where Gatsby and Daisy dancing together.
Art-direction.
Many think that the movie has more style than substance. I think the movie sometimes can be distracting. I mean the parties, the choreography, the songs, the camera movements, literally ache my head and hurt my ear. There are scene that a bit too much, too loud, too shimmery. Let’s hope, the great social themes are not lost.
The green light, the symbol of unreachable treasure, it’s too much referred on the screen. Don’t you think for this important symbol of the story should be described with subtlety. Take a look at The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton’s masterpiece, how Scorcece can turn the symbols from letters to pictures but with class. Anyway, out of topic, I found similarities between this movies. Both movies are came from a book, both are masterpiece, both are about New York, and both are published at the same period. In fact, I found Luhrmann's dinner scene in Buchanan's house is quite identical with Scorcece's camera style in The Age of Innocence dinner scene. How people talk, the angle, the camera movement, the shoots, you tell me.
The green light, the symbol of unreachable treasure, it’s too much referred on the screen. Don’t you think for this important symbol of the story should be described with subtlety. Take a look at The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton’s masterpiece, how Scorcece can turn the symbols from letters to pictures but with class. Anyway, out of topic, I found similarities between this movies. Both movies are came from a book, both are masterpiece, both are about New York, and both are published at the same period. In fact, I found Luhrmann's dinner scene in Buchanan's house is quite identical with Scorcece's camera style in The Age of Innocence dinner scene. How people talk, the angle, the camera movement, the shoots, you tell me.
Finally,
If there any moral value in this story, it’s the reality that's not everyone can have as much money as the Buchanans have. Daisy and Tom are deserved each other, as they both corrupt and spoiled. The idea that everyone can live the dream is just a dream. Gatsby Dream is merely American dream that must come to an end. For most, life is the nightmare of the valley of the ashes where the eyes watching all day long.
Rating: 5,5/10. It's just my opinion. I did not entirely hate it, but I think Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, it's the "great" one. If you want to see the glamour of jazz era, Luhrmann's work, Leonardo Dicaprio and Carrey Mulligan, this movie will be a treat for your eyes.
This movie may awaken something in you, a memory of when you were madly in love with someone, or a time when you’re longing of what’s your life should be.
For me it's just a satire. If I could go back, I’d rather not watch it.
Do you like the movie, what do you think?
- B
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