Having never read The Great Gatsby or having seen any of the previous adaptations, I didn't know what to expect, other than what I knew of the story; set in the 1920s and a somewhat tragic love story. And of course there was what I knew of the cast and director. The combination of all these things meant that I had what I don't believe were unrealistic expectations that this film had potential.
For those like me who don't know, the film is narrated by Nick (Tobey Maguire), who is recounting the time he spent with his cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom (Joel Edgerton), on Long Island and in New York City in the summer of 1922. He moves into a modest home across the bay from Daisy, his house dwarfed by the massive estate next door owned by a man named Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). A man who throws lavish parties every weekend but whom nobody has ever met. Nick gets invited to one of Gatsby's parties and eventually meets the ellusive man and gets to know him. Once Gatsby trusts Nick he lets him in on a secret; he is Daisy's long lost love, returned from the war with the intention of winning her back. Of course Daisy is now married, a fact Gatsby is well aware of, but his love for Daisy is so consuming he is willing to do anything to get her back. Consequently, a lot of people, some intentionally, and some caught in the cross-fire, get hurt. But will it all be worth it in the end?
The problem with the story, and I don't know if this is with the story in general or just this telling of it, is that you don't really care enough about any of the characters to feel invested in what happens to them. The film is also really long, which doesn't help the cause as you put all of this time in and don't really feel any reward for your efforts.
Tobey Maguire is a good actor but his character is boring. Making him the narrator just slows the proceedings down even more. And I don't really think the film would have lost a great deal by just letting events unfold without a narrator. His character is so dull, I had to look up his name as I genuinely couldn't remember it. That's how little an impact he had on me.
DiCaprio is charasmatic as Gatsby but he looks too young to be believable as a survivor of the war who then went on to have adventures at sea, make a fortune and get a reputation for himself as an extravagant millionaire. He only really gets to shine when cracks start to appear in Gatsby's facade. Mulligan and Edgerton are both good but are both woefully underused. Mulligan's contribution to the film being to look pretty in her 20s clothes and appear torn between two lovers, while Edgerton is merely supposed to look like the baddie of the hour (complete with moustache) so that the audience wants Daisy to end up with Gatsby. I for one always find that decision can be more heartbreaking when both men are decent and honorable, rather than having to choose between a cheat and a madman.
The film was too long for my liking and the characters not likable enough to warrant me sitting there for that length of time. A very dull and disappointing 5 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 29th May 2013
UK Release Date - 16th May 2013
Cast Overview:
Leonardo DiCaprio ~ Jay Gatsby
Tobey Maguire ~ Nick Carraway
Carey Mulligan ~ Daisy Buchanan
Joel Edgerton ~ Tom Buchanan
Isla Fisher ~ Myrtle Wilson
Jason Clarke ~ George Wilson
Adelaide Clemens ~ Catherine
Elizabeth Debicki ~ Jordan Baker
Director ~ Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s) ~ Baz Luhrmann (Screenplay), Craig Pearce (Screenplay)
and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Novel)
No comments:
Post a Comment