Review of The Great Gatsby (2013) by Hope B — 24 Apr 2016

I thought that this version of the Great Gatsby was very well done. It follows the book and highlights the symbols and mood of the story. It was exuberant and energetic in some parts, as well as quiet and tense in others. The casting was also good, and I enjoyed watching how each of the actors played their parts uniquely. I felt that each of the characters of the book were carried out to the full extent.

I would describe this movie as being very much driven by the atmosphere created. From the patterns the cars made on the streets and the city skylines, to the dramatic music and color contrasts in different scenes, the movie gave off a vibe that really impacted what was happening. The atmosphere in many parts of the movie was vibrant and showy, almost exaggerated. This was played out especially in the party scenes, and a lot of the introduction scenes. The producers obviously spent a lot of time on this aspect of the film. Overall, I think that they could have toned down on some of the effects to make the movie seem more realistic, but at the same time, I loved the almost fantastical mood it created. The music selection also played a part in the exaggerated atmosphere of the movie. In many scenes, modern music was used. I think this captured my attention more than the authentic music would have, but it also took away from the plot. Each scene was created with amazing detail and effect to create a particular mood. This made me feel more and more part of the action and drama that was taking place.

Most of the characters stayed very true to the book. Gatsby was mysterious and optimistic, Nick considered himself aloof to everything that was happening, Tom was hypocritical and strong, and Jordan was proud yet simple. I thought that Daisy was very well portrayed in that she was extremely attached to her money and security, but at the same time she was allured by Gatsby and her past. The only criticism I have of Daisy's character is that the movie portrayed her as caring more about Gatsby in the end then the book did. In the movie, Daisy calls Gatsby and is about to speak to him right before his death, while in the book, Daisy does not follow through with what she said and breaks off all relation to Gatsby. This gives more of a hopeful tone at least for Gatsby in the movie.

In the movie, Nick is telling the story of what happened through his writing at an asylum. The movie jumps from the present time, where Nick is writing, and to the story, the events he is writing about. I think this was a very good choice of how to introduce what was happening without taking too much time to explain. However, sometimes I felt that the asylum scenes interrupted the plot. My favorite part of the movie was the scene when Myrtle is killed. It was very emotional and intense to watch, and it also follows the book. I loved the slow motion because it added the element of shock that people will go through when things like this happen. The music that accompanied that scene really made the impression of sorrow and importance. In this scene as well as others, the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg were used as a symbol and this played a key role in the book as well. Overall, the movie was very good. While it did have some things that I would have changed, I loved how true it stayed to the book while adding style and depth to the setting and characters.