The Great Gatsby

[nemmie]

So: who is heading out to see The Great Gatsby this weekend?

I pre-bought my tickets for a showing tomorrow evening (the Sundance theater here is the only one that lets you pick pre-assigned seating, and I'm too lazy to show up early for a decent seat, so Sundance it is even though they don't do 3D).

It seems to be getting mixed reviews (46% right now at Rotten Tomatoes). I am not terribly surprised though, Baz's films tend to be pretty polarizing. Even in the 'negative' reviews the performances are being highly praised. I'm pretty excited to finally see this thing!

[Deleted]

I also pre-bought a ticket. Good thing too, because the showing sold out two days ago. I'm seeing it in 3D.

[Deleted]

I hope lethallyfab will give us an analysis because without a film studies background, I know I will miss something.

[lea1977]

Look forward to reading your reviews.

[forever1267]

Well it's definitely not for everyone, but I loved it. The first 20 + minutes are just like Moulin Rouge!, hyper and hectic, but then it calms down again. The 3D is really used more for depth of field, like the Dock with the Green Light, than for throwing confetti and champagne at the screen. Maguire narrates entire passages of the novel, and some of it is even written on the screen. It's VERY artificial looking, but purposely so, and and edited and art directed within an inch of it's life. But it still captures the cynical romanticism of the novel. And it certainly will be like nothing else on the big screen this summer. Loved it!

[Deleted]

I loved it too, I like that they kept so much of the original dialog from the book. And Leo was awesome. I think he totally nailed Gatsby.

I am however disappointed that they cut out Gatsby's dad entirely and the part where the Owl Eyed Man showed up at the burial. "That poor son of a bitch" is one of my favorite lines and I missed it.

[carrier76]

The first 20 + minutes are just like Moulin Rouge!, hyper and hectic, but then it calms down again.

I told mr. carrier76 that the beginning made me feel like I was going to have an aneurysm.

I liked it okay. I just reread the book last year but didn't retain enough of it apparently to remember huge chunks from the book. I was very put off by the anachronistic music...I felt it was trying too hard to appeal to the kids or something--I was especially put off by hearing a bit of "Crazy in Love" when Gatsby is setting up Nick's place. Took me right out of the movie. No thanks, Hova.

I just got home from it, so I still need to process it. Visually, it was a delight. It seemed LONG though.

[nemmie]

I loved it too, yet was a little frustrated with portions. No "Her voice is full of money" line. The end portions with Daisy, picking up the phone gave her too much credit (that never happened in the novel, sister had already checked out on her fun little affair and was already in Paris). Also the shooting in the pool, I felt like it was the Titanic death scene all over again.

I just re-read the book a few weeks ago so it's all very fresh in my mind, and I kind of regret that now. I think preconception is the biggest problem with this novel being made into a feature. Everyone has read it, EVERYONE. Everyone has their favorite parts and different nuances on the overall theme and when bits are missing or different, it's just going to be disappointing. It's something I picked up in on the 'negative' reviews I read. And even going into the theater knowing this, and telling myself I wouldn't let it affect how I saw this film version, I came out vaguely bummed at the end. Even though I really did love this movie, if that makes sense. Luhrmann gets huge props for taking on a project like this.

So, back to the movie itself: I totally agree with forever1267 on the overall feel and look of the film - it is 100% a Baz Luhrmann movie. I plan to see it again in a few weeks, see if I can shake out those preconceptions. I think Luhrmann really nailed the 'feel' of the book and the acting was superb. Every one of the main roles nailed it (I did think Jason Clarke/George Wilson was a wee bit over the top, it still didn't take me out of the movie though).

[Deleted]

They went to Chicago, not Paris. I didn't like that change either. I can understand the need filmmakers have to make Daisy more sympathetic, but she really isn't. The tragedy of the whole thing is in the fact she wasn't worth the effort. I didn't think that came across very well though I do think Luhrman had a better interpretation of her character than the Redford version of the movie.

I just re-read the book the day before I saw it so it was really fresh in my mind. Oddly enough, none of the five people I saw it with have ever read the book. I had no one to discuss the differences with!

[GoldenFleece]

I didn't think Daisy came off as a good person here but Gatsby was more of a creeper than in earlier adaptations. I liked this enough to want to see it again but in 3D this time.

Has anyone seen the 1949 version? I Youtubed it this weekend. Certain changes were made to pass the production code and also just because, apparently, plus the attempts to make the movie look period are half-assed (I think that was a general thing films did back then, though) and the budget must have run out by the time they got around to filming the party scenes. Alan Ladd gave it a decent effort. I saw the Robert Redford version in high school and I just remember thinking it was drippy and that "What'll I Doooooooooo" song. There's only a trailer of the silent version (the film itself is lost) but in it you still get flashes of a few pivotal scenes.