starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, etc.
based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
REACTION: ★★★★ (Loved)
First thought as I left the theater: So much better than I remember the book being! I mean, I liked the book and all when I read it in high school, but the movie was impressive. Like I want to own it when it comes out on DVD, Blueray, illegal downloads, whatever. Yeah there were parts that were kind of cheesy (like the whole thing about Gatsby's smile, Nick's droning lead-in about Gatsby greatness/mystery, or the ridiculously windy white intro to Daisey). And I'm not too keen on using current pop music to soundtrack a movie set in the 1920s (I felt the same way about Shakespeare dialogue set in modern times with "Romeo and Juliet" but intentional mismatch on Luhrmann's part perhaps). And while Leo and Tobey were pretty perfect casting, the actress playing Daisey looks way younger than Leo to be a viable contemporary and really not exactly breathtaking enough for the role. But that's all petty nitpicks as the big picture here was something epic. The story arcs and cinematography alone kicked ass. Hit all the beats, plus quirky humor, and just perfect unfolding of events and characters. Takes you along for the ride with adorably awkward Nick as he witnesses the life, laughter, sorrow, wonder, illusions, and treachery of these people who at first captivated and later disgusted and inspired pity. Captured Fitzgerald's sentiment about the rich and their callous ways, leaving bodies in their wake and never having to bear responsibility for anything. Tom was obvious, we knew he was a jerk when we met him. But Daisey really sucks you in, especially that scene where she poignantly broke down after the shirt throwing on the bed. You could tell that she was genuinely moved by Gatsby's love (or obsession really), but just not quite enough it turns out. I'm glad this didn't play out as just some unrequited love story, because it's actually a story about devastatingly indestructible hope. Gatsby was a visionary (slightly delusional), and he made shit happen by whatever seedy means necessary to feed his legit and rather endearing motivations (Leo's always at his best when playing off balanced characters). Bittersweet how Nick was the only one who saw him for who he was and admired him for it. Such a beautiful ending, both visually and emotionally. I'm not sure how closely the movie really adhered to the details of the book since it's been awhile since I read it, but the whole discourse on East Egg vs. West Egg, Gatsby's "old sport" bit, and the billboard of the overlooking eyes were pretty much as I remembered. On a personal note, I loved the shots of the morning after one of Gatsby's bashes. Just the air of desolate abandonment you get when the party's over and everyone goes home and you see the messy remnants of what once was. That sense of melancholic calm and emptiness is so dear and magical to me, ever since I was a kid, I'm glad it was featured. Overall, awesome viewing experience that was artistically plucked out of pages from a book.
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