Review of The Great Gatsby (2013) by Movieguys — 21 Aug 2015

I've never been a fan of Baz Luhrmann's filmography, and his new Gatsby project is no exception. This is an amazing book, but his adaptation to the screen employs rap music and modern references here and there that do not fit the story at all.

Now, I'm not a cinema purist when it comes to adding modern hints in period pieces, but the way Luhrmann does it is too obvious to benefit from subtlety. Also, Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher should've switched their respective roles as Daisy and Myrtle: the casting choices there were not great.

Each woman would've played the other character better, and the movie would've benefitted greatly. As for DiCaprio and Maguire, they played their characters on par with Fitzgerald's writing, and added some character nuances that only great actors can pull off, so bravo to them.

If you're a fan of the story, it might be worthwhile to check out the movie, but don't set high expectations.