“No amount of fire could challenge the fairytale he had stored up in his heart.”
The anticipation surrounding Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” has been insatiable ever since the modern telling of F. Scott Fitzgerald classic was announced and then pushed back from its December 2012 release date to a 2013 spring premiere. Luhrmann’s retelling of the lifestyle of Jay Gatsby and the elite group that circles him during the Roaring Twenties, makes an impact with an eclectic cast and boasting performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki and Isla Fisher.
Nick Carraway (Maguire), a writer from the Midwest, moves to New York in the 1920s to become a bond broker. Carraway immerses himself into the elite lifestyle and associates with his cousin Daisy (Mulligan) and her husband, Tom Buchanan (Edgerton), an established polo player. Jordan Baker (Debicki), a professional golfer, emerges as a key player in the events that carry out during the film and a pressured love interest for Carraway. Through the midst of the rich lifestyle of his friends, Carraway’s interest peaks when trying to unravel the mystery around Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio), a millionaire who throws lavish parties for New York’s elite. Nick’s interest in Gatsby transcends beyond the flashy lifestyle and becomes infatuated with him as an individual. The discoveries he makes about the true Jay Gatsby send him into a world of infallible hope and inevitable tragedy.
“The Great Gatsby,” slightly flawed in its storytelling, is a beautiful attempt nonetheless and will undoubtedly leave an impact. Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald tale is bold and touching. Leonardo DiCaprio is the perfect man for Jay Gatsby, whose hope and naivety is immaculate in DiCaprio’s deliverance. Toby Maguire’s sincere interest in the dynamics between Carraway and Gatsby is evident and fosters that genuinely organic relationship between the two. Carey Mulligan, the breathless Daisy, is the beautiful damsel in distress that would cause any leading man to lose himself to obsession and hope. What you’ll discover with Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” is an arrangement of characters, so finely tuned, that you’ll lose yourself in their world and when tragedy strikes, your heart will break along with theirs.
A strong component to “The Great Gatsby,” Jay-Z’s executive produced soundtrack that accompanies the film. Rightfully so, Jay’s efforts in creating a fitting soundtrack to “The Great Gatsby” has been applauded for bringing together a strong and eclectic range of performers. The 1920’s jazz infused sound with contemporary artists is an admirable feat and really takes this story to another tier. Notable tracks are Jay-Z’s “100$ Bills,” Beyonce and Andre 3000’s remarkable cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Back To Black” and Lana Del Rey’s haunting “Young and Beautiful.”
“The Great Gatsby” is strong, bold and a beautiful recreation of the novel.
Ben Lester (bjams11)
