Review of The Great Gatsby (2013) by Margarita S — 08 Mar 2014
The film is visually stunning - costumes, set design, lighting - and the principal characters of Gatsby (DiCaprio), Daisy (Mulligan) and Tom (Edgerton) are perfectly cast. DiCaprio's performance is impressive.
Although there are signature Luhrmann elements - the dancing, the excess, the use of modern music in a 1920s setting - the film lacks cleverness and cohesion. It's as though Luhrmann ran out of directorial ideas and decided to instead resurrect successful elements from his prior films such as the classic storyline (Romeo & Juliet) coupled with the over-the-top cabaret styled party scenes and modern music (Moulin Rouge).
Plunking these elements together in The Great Gatsby though didn't altogether work. The film was choppy. It moved along in parts and stalled in others. It was a musical sometimes and then a drama in others.
All in all, it felt like a shadow of what had once made Luhrmann brilliant although, it does in the end deliver on entertainment. Just don't take it too seriously.
This review of The Great Gatsby (2013) was written by Margarita S on 08 Mar 2014.
The Great Gatsby has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
