The Great Gatsby

Hello again,
Sorry I have been gone for so long. Unfortunately college along with a host of other issues has kept me very busy. This blog will be my new summer project, hopefully.

I would like to preface this review by saying, I complain A LOT. When I don't like something, you'll hear a lot of complaints. When I love something, you'll hear a lot of compliments. The Great Gatsby fell somewhere in the middle of those two ends of the spectrum.

My issues include:
- the shot where Leo turns around with the champagne glass and the fireworks go off in the background was much too cheesy for my taste. The style of the film was too high of a quality, almost looked animated. It needed to be more realistic. HD or whatever them youngins are calling it. I wanted it to look more realistic, less showy.
-There was one scene where gatsby was wearing a lounge outfit that looked much too modern. tan sweater and pants. not a huge deal though
-When Nick and Gatsby are in the speakeasy underneath the barber shop, the girls dancing are wearing a two piece slutty dancer/bathing suit-esque outfit. However, 1. people in the twenties would have almost never worn two pieces like that. The flapper dresses that we have seen in pictures were considered scandalous at the time. That was considered revealing. They would have never worn a two piece, whether or not it had fringe on it. 2. They were doing sexy moves that would not have been seen until well into the late 20th century.

One thing I found intriguing however perplexing at the same time was the decision to mix current music (like Jay-Z and beyonce) with 20's era music like Gershwin's rhapsody in Blue.
On one hand, I appreciate the newer music because then the kids my age who go to see it will be able to connect with the material more. Also, they will be able to understand that parties from the 20's were a lot like parties today. They were just as crazy and drunken and wild.
On the other hand, I did go into this movie expecting a period piece. The book is widely known for its theme of attaining the american dream as well as the 1920's time period. I would have appreciated more jazz music, more period music to reinforce this timeless story.

I was a little worried going into this film that the director, famous for directing Moulin Rouge! would take this too over the top and it would lose the true message of the book, as well as possibly take it out of Nick's perspective or make his character different. I was worried the tone of the film would be affected at the pursuit of glamour and volume and sparkles. Thankfully, the director was able to keep Nick's calm, eerie, yet wise tone of voice intact.

I also really liked how they incorporated the use of the typewriter and the on-screen text, as well as the bold choice of having Nick be narrating the story from a sanitarium. I also liked how we got to see the book be put together. The strong nod to the text shows great respect for the book itself. (that made me think of my Oral Interpretation of Literature class. We'd use a small binder when we performed pieces as an homage to the author and to the text. Its a form of respect.)

While I didn't have many negative reviews for this film, there was something about it that didn't make me love it. I sat in the theatre, and as it got towards the last hour or half hour or so, I wanted to know the time. and that is a bad sign. If I want to check my watch, it means I am not captivated by this story enough to want to sit through every second of it.

At most, I give this movie a B.
 It was pretty good but not good enough for me to want to see it again or to own it on DVD. I doubt it will get any awards, especially with its reviews in the papers.
I am also surprised with the amount of hype that was created, that it wasn't as good of a movie as I would have liked. Oh well. we can't always get what we want.