The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann, 2013)

I love this book. I love this director. Can it get any better? I'm so happy with this adaptation of the classic novel.

Baz Luhrmann is known for his Red Curtain Cinema which is almost like a genre by itself. Modern music, dancing, special effects, amazing sets and costumes and glitter. Everywhere. This film is truly amazing.

As the book is told in first person narrative Nick Carraway, Luhrmann as chosen to tell the story through the same person as though he was writing the story as part of therapy reflecting back with included voice over. I think the idea is brilliant because one wants to include that narration otherwise Nick is forgotten. People either hate or love Luhrmann and I love him. I think his style is original, exciting and full of surprises. I don't think that every film can be portrayed this way but this one certainly can. It's got it's calm moments too. This is a film that I believe is just a bit too hard to explain without watching it. I will just leave it up to you and you can make up your own mind about it.

Plot Summary: 
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await. - IMDb


The Stars:
I love Leonardo DiCaprio and he was born for this role. No question. No comment. This is a statement. I'd never heard of Carrie Mulligan before, but I was impressed and she has gone quite far now I believe. And let's just appreciate how far Tobey Maguire has gotten from the nerdy kid with certain spider super powers. I'm impressed. As for the others, I think it is very well cast overall!

My Rating:
10/10
I know I do this a lot. But Luhrmann knows how to pull it off. Also, the soundtrack is AMAZING (and I usually don't like this type of music). I ordered it before I'd even seen the film.