'The Great Gatsby' (2013)

Based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, told from the point of view by Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) while hospitalized in a mental facility Nick reflects on his experiences, past secrets and times of the 1920s Long-Island setting. Moving away from the Midwest author Carraway quickly becomes engulfed in the lifestyle which New York has to offer buying a small place next to a luxurious mansion, becoming a stock broker, and enjoying his gluttonous time with his cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan), her brutish husband Tom Buchannan (Joel Edgerton), and love interest Jordan Baker (Elizabeth Debicki). Nick becomes more aware of Tom’s affair with Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher) and is held to an already well known secret. Nick is personally invited to his neighbor’s party learning more about the rumors of the legendary person next door, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo Dicaprio). An instant connection Jay attempts to sway Nick to involve in both of his businesses, prohibition sales and Daisy. Only successful with Nick’s help of Daisy, Nick attempts to keep secrets of everyone’s affairs; stay with the wealth of the times and the destitute morale of this modern adaptation of the 1920s tale.

Baz Lurman’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby has numerous problems, questions of morals within the making of the film, and adaptation skills. This film skimmed the surface of the plot of The Great Gatsby such that the role of Meyer Wolfsheim (Amitabh Bachchan), the prohibition mobster, is emphasized more in the movie than in the novel than that of George Wilson (Jason Clarke), Myrtle Wilson’s push over husband. This experimental version of a more modern The Great Gatsby as well was not a pleasing success because of the available resources of the setting, plot, and talent surrounded by Baz not used such as the substitute for rap music to jazz music of the roaring twenties. The music soundtrack, produced by rap artist Jay Z, message of money, power, and greed does correlate with the version of The Great Gatsby Lurman is attempting to portray however not the original version F. Scott Fitzgerald does convey about the American Dream. Even the romantic performances of Leonard Dicaprio and ditsy Carey Mulligan fail to save Tobey Macguire’s less than sub par performance and poorly “shot and chopped” Lurman production. The film a successful sell out to the target audience: couples, pre-teens/teens never had read The Great Gatsby and theater troop fans. The film alone emphasizes and promotes themes of greed, gluttony, and adultery in an over the top, theatrical, flamboyant, sluggish paced version of the novel. C-