The Great Gatsby

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Blu B A Baz & DiCaprio Classic. Solidly made all around. You know compared to the 74' version which would probably be the two most well known ones I'd make the following observations. The 74' one I think is more faithful in terms of capturing the tone of the novel looking back but as a result you get a very dry tone throughout. If there is one thing this isn't is dry and boring. The direction pops with life, style, and that contemporary swoon you'd expect with Baz. DiCaprio & Mulligan are great and the standouts. I think Redford was the more ideal Gatsby on paper but DiCaprio gives the better performance overall. Kind of like how Roger Moore is really what Fleming had in my mind for 007 but Connery just ended up fitting the medium better. I also appreciate how this made Nick a much more interesting and well rounded character. There's more trauma, a deeper relationship it feels with Gatsby, and Tobey gives a performance with more life to it. This has a problem simliar to the 74' one where it lets the production and lavishness in the first half at times get in the way of telling a story though I think it does get under control eventually. Ironically the best moments here are the slow romantic moments where the director stops with all the show and pomp and just focuses on the romance. There intimate and really welll done moments. This also does have a porblem focusing on the romance and Nick going at a very fast pace at times while also meandering with showing off production and lavishness. Some of the dialouge also can be a bit stodgy and clashes with the modern take. The soundtrack which is a mix of 20's music, cinematic tracks and Jay-Z modern R&B/Pop may offend purists for sure similar to the likes of Marie Anotinette (2005) so be warned for you stodgy old sports. It's defintely a unique mix but it works because of the distinct style of direction here. It can feel distracting at times but in the second half it does let up. Overall it succeeds at making a very challenging novel adapted to the big screen but doesn't soar. It's defintely the best film version overall but not perfect. I would be hard pressed to think someone else could do better with this. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, historical dramas, period pieces, or the source material should check this out. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/06/25 Full Review Be S An amazing interpretation of an amazing book. A rare movie that retains book author's great melancholic rhythm. It is a rare example where you can read the book and later watch the movie without feeling this is not what you imagined. Probably the movie I saw the most times. It made me re-read the book again and also got me into reading the other works by Fitzgerald. Has a similar feel and story to another great movie, Citizen Kane. I believe many critics missed the main quality of the movie being it's very similarity to the book. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/25 Full Review Blake S I thought the movie was great! Chaotic, thrilling, and funny, the Great Gatsby is, well, great. I'm 12 and read the book, which I thought was stunning. Then I watched the movie a couple days later with my mom and we both loved it. I also like the soundtrack and cast, and I also loved how much they kept it similar to the book. The movie is awesome, I recommend it highly! :-) Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/30/25 Full Review Naomi O I must confess, having first watched the movie some years ago I found it to be a glittering, stunning, mess. Luhrmann directs movies with all the subtlety of a fever dream (a similar quality found in Elvis 2022). However, since reading the source material, I find the directors take congruent to the actual tone of the novel. A story that unfurls from the chaotic haze of the narrators memory and imagination. True, elements of the book were cruelly sacrificed, but all in service to the story. The essence of the novel was captured and what we are left with is a dazzlingly enjoyable watch. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review Frans B Loved it. Brilliantly directed by Luhrmann. Very well written and brought to screen. Great cinematography and settings. DiCaprio and Maguire really do their characters justice, very convincingly. Whole cast shines in character. Lots of action, drama, deceit, extravagance, romance and noir kind of feel to it. Great movie, very entertaining Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/25 Full Review Gareth v A visually rich but ultimately hollow adaptation that dazzles on the surface but lacks depth. Pretty much like all Luhrmann movies. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Great Gatsby

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