Review of The Great Gatsby (2013) by Matteo704 — 09 May 2013

Contrary to what the majority of critics are saying about Luhrmann's Gatsby, there is a lot to love about the picture.2013's Gatsby contains everything that fans of the book have come to expect: grande scenes, vivacious music, and a world of shallowness that becomes to much for the narrator (and audiences) to handle.

The cast is stunning all around, from Jason Clarke's unstable Wilson to DiCaprio's glowing Gatsby, the performances are A-list. Tobey Maguire was brilliant as Nick Carraway, capturing the dry wit that Fitzgerald frequently utilized in the original novel.

Unfortunately, it is not until the final act of the film that Luhrmann's direction truly allows the cast to genuinely act. The movie's first two acts were more focused on the glitz and glamour of the Roarin' Twenties than effectively setting the scene.

Nonetheless, the colors of this adaptation are a breathe of fresh air in comparison to previous efforts. Overall, despite having an excess of flash and a sometimes effective ("Love is Blindness" at the film's climax)-often inappropriate (Jay-Z's "$100 Bill" used literally whenever the director saw fit) inclusion of modern rock and hip-hop into what is supposed to be a classic Jazz Age story, Luhrmann's clear passion for the work and a perfect cast more than makes up for it.

Definitely worth the $9.