Theater Interruption (The Great Gatsby)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Writers: Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce (screenplay) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (novel)

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire

A very faithful adaptation for the most part, with the only major change coming in the addition of a mediocre framing device of a depressed and alcoholic Nick writing the story as part of his therapy. Overall, it doesn't detract too much and it offers a tolerable excuse to directly quote from the novel's text in voiceover. The visuals are the standard Luhrmann affair, totally gaudy and excessive - though I have to say that I felt they fit pretty well will the phony, showy and shallow lives of the characters. Baz directs the picture with all of the subtlety of a music video, but the source material isn't the most subtle anyway. While I found the modern soundtrack a bit jarring at first, I adjusted to the idea and it seemed to fit the mood well enough - there's a couple of great songs in there, especially this early front runner for Best Original Song. DiCaprio is a perfect Gatsby and his intro is one of the best that I can recall in recent history. If you can get past a couple of the more jarring choices that Baz makes (and aren't a Gatsby / jazz purist), this a solid (if a bit overlong) adaptation.

Score: 5 / 10