The Great Gatsby

[huntergrayson]

Has there EVER actually been a "highly faithful" cinematic adaptation?

I still haven't managed to finish the 49 version because it is SO TERRIBLE. How terrible, you ask? One, Gatsby tells Nick his secret/true identity in the first fifteen minutes - WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING. That's right, Gatsby's big secret that isn't revealed until the last act of the novel is told in 15 minutes. That's like Clarke Kent being all "so hey Lois, I'm totally Superman!' within the opening of 'Man of Steel.' Two? The costumes? Are LAME. They are by Edith Head! One of the greatest costume designers of ALL TIME and are lame.

I hate hate hate the cover of 'So Happy Together,' but otherwise? This looks STUNNING.

Baz's take won't 'ruin' the book. The book is still going to be there. Much like his take of 'Romeo & Juliet' or 'La Boheme' (the latter of which I was lucky enough to see twice on-stage and LOVED), I'm hoping this brings a fresh interpretation to a classic.

Did Baz actually read the book?

I don't think I will see it -- I love the book too much.

The stunning new character posters all contain word-for-word quotes from the novel and Slate pointed out that teaser trailer repurposed a different Fitzgerald work for Nick's voiceover.

From the two trailers - Tom Buchanan seems like Tom. I wasn't initially sold on Tobey as Nick, but he's selling me. No doubt that most of the main cast is too old - it's technically 'canon' that Nick is 30 because he mentions it in the novel - but I'm not going to be the person who is all 'CINNA IS WHITE, YOU GUYS! I KNOW SO BECAUSE OF THIS LINE IN THE HUNGER GAMES' or 'I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LEFT OUT SUCH-AND-SUCH SCENE FROM THE GOLDEN COMPASS!' or "SO AND SO CHARACTER HAS BLUE EYES."

I mean, fuck, the guy playing Meyer Wolfsheim is a Bollywood star.

Film and books are two entirely different mediums. I'd rather see an adaptation that gets the spirit right rather than the letter. And this seems to.

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What dguzpy and hunter said.

And if it does turn out to be a mess, it'll be a fabulously beautiful mess. I'm looking forward to it. The only filmed version I've seen is the Robert Redford one, and it really was just so boring. And I hated Mia Farrow's Daisy. I'm hoping Carey Mulligan does it better.

[Hamatron]

Word. I don't go to a Baz Luhrmann flick expecting a super deep, faithful, thoughtful script. I go because he makes fast-moving, sparkly eye-crack. However, when he works with an already strong text, like he did with Romeo and Juliet, he does put out a stronger, better realized film. So my hopes for this one are perhaps a tiny bit higher. But whatever. Art deco, gold, diamonds, black lacquer? That's good enough.

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I actually really like Baz's films, and while I do not think the film has to be a literal interpretation of the book, it does not seem in the spirit of the book -- only in my opinion.

Hunter, after reading your post, I will be sure to brush up on my film theory, history, and criticism before posting!

[ladyjane]

Unfortunately Leo kills this movie stone dead for me. He makes my flesh crawl.

[Deleted]

Snippets of it were in a trailer/teaser/TV ad - but the full version of the new Florence + the Machine track "Over the Love" has leaked and it is a doozy.

[chonies]

I'm usually kind of ehhhh on Baz Luhrman films, but my commitments to Amitabh Bachchan and deco style are total, so I will definitely see this.

I should also re-read the book, I suppose.

[Neurochick]

I wonder if a lot of people who will see this movie would have even read the book. In other words, is this movie made for people who haven't read the book?

[GirlyGhoul]

I've read the book (not recently, but I remembered enough of it to recognize key points in the trailer) I was planning to go see this and looking forward to it- but I wonder if it really needs to be in 3D? The big spectacle of Gatsby is his party throwing- but there are many non-party parts to the book where... I mean really why would you need to have 3D glasses on to watch Daisy cry over some beautiful shirts? Oh maybe when he's tossing the shirts the audience will be all "WOW! It really looks like those shirts are coming right towards me!" But would that be worth the $3.50 surcharge for glasses rental? I'm hoping they have some non 3D showings because it really seems unncessesary- unless they are planning to go way off book and have Gatsby decide to take Daisy and Nick skydiving or something- or they turn the trip to the city into a Fast and Furious style drag race between Gatsby and Tom.

But I love the story, tragic and messed up as it all is. So I'd like to see another take on it (Only saw the Redford/Farrow version). I just really can't fathom why it needs to be in 3D. How many flapper high kicks do we really need to see right in our faces?

[Deleted]

It was shot in 3D rather than quickly post-converted like a lot of stuff these days, which generally means the 3D will look better/more immersive. I've been browsing the Vulture archives and old "Ten Gatsby Aspects We Can't Wait for In 3D" article had me laughing so hard.