Baz Luhrmann's The Great and Wonderful Gatsby

Director Baz Luhrmann has certainly created his very own version of The Great Gatsby. It’s been ages since I read the book, to the point where much of it has evaporated from my mind. That being said, Baz’s adaptation was a fast, entertaining, and grandiose.  

The acting was marvelous across the whole board, especially from Leo — whose creation of his own Gatsby was delicate, fresh and quite painfully full of hope. To my surprise I loved Tobey Maguire. He plays the Nick Carraway with a submissive sincerity, which some may read as banal, but I read as classically genuine. This may be stretch, but during key moments, especially as he dives deeper into the story, becoming more caught up in the web and recalls the world of Gatsby, reminded me a bit of Humphrey Bogart as Dixon Steele in In a Lonely Place — with that quiet, even washed up disposition. 

The star of the film is not what one may think; that being Leonardo, or even Baz’s wild, theatrical methods; which here has been toned down, especially compared to Moulin Rouge. No, the star of the film is the surprising rich chemistry between Gatsby and Daisy (played by the adorable Carey Mulligan). We get brief glimpses into their past, we hear stories of them together before they were separated for five years. The moment they meet again was incredibly convincing, as if we’ve known these two beautiful people for years and suddenly stepped into this private reuniting. 

The body language and facial expressions as the two stare into each other’s eyes is down to earth and realistic, with a loving, but mostly awkward head-over-heels light-headedness; a moment in time where they are just waiting for the air between them to collide. 

I was weary that The Great Gatsby wasn’t going to be fun or exciting, or that the story would have been secondary to make way for the lavishness that is Baz. Once Baz signed on, you’d have to be a fool to think you were going to get a casually paced film version of the book. No, Baz uses his unique style and voice to liven up the American classic, bringing in a lot of fancy art direction, special effects, melodrama and wonderful music. Not every film needs to take advantage of all aspects of filmmaking, but Baz is one of the few that demands the most enthusiasm from every corner of the filmmaking universe. 

Many will disagree with me, and that’s fine, but I found this film to be charming and full of energy, and Leonardo DiCaprio is certainly at the top of his game. 

The film is now playing at Willow Creek Cinemas Twelve • Please check the facebook page for showtimes • facebook.com/thewillowcreek