Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby will have the honour of opening this year’s Cannes Film festival on the 15th of May. Apart from the state of New York the film couldn’t have a more perfect setting for a premiere, as F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote parts of the book while vacationing not far from Cannes. The story follows Nick Carraway (played by Toby Maguire), a bond salesman who has just moved to New York. There he meets Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), an enigmatic millionaire, who has been secretly in love with Nick’s cousin Daisy (played by Carey Mulligan) since a brief romantic encounter with her five years ago. Daisy however has since gotten married and had a child but Gatsby never gives up hope that he may meet her again. When Daisy and Gatsby finally reunite, Nick starts seeing the glittering façade of the rich world he has come to live in crumble before him and realises that having money and fame isn’t everything they appear to be.
With critics the reviews have been mixed. On Metacritic it has a score of 55 out of 100 and on Rotten Tomatoes it only received 49%. They seem to differ on many aspects of the film e.g. whether the use of 3D makes the film better, changing parts of the story or if the style is too over the top! Consumers however have responded well to it. Metacritic gave it a score of 8.0 out of 10 while Rotten Tomatoes says that 98% of people asked wanted to go see it. [1] [2] So far the film has earned $51,115,000 and it’s only been open wide in the US for the past three days. [3] With all these mixed reviews, it can be daunting to know who to trust. So here are some videos that briefly talk about the movie and how it came together for you to judge with your own minds!
Adapting a Book
Costumes
Music
[1] http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-great-gatsby
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
I saw this film opening day and cannot wait to go see it again. I think Baz Luhrman and his cast and BTS crew did an incredible job bringing this book to life…far more so than the ’74 Redford version. The vibrant, decadent, over the top wealth and lifestyle of the 20s truly roars in this film. Surprisingly I found the mash-up of hip hop/1920s jazz very well done. Plus you have Florence and the Machines, Will I. Am, Fergie, Lana Del Rey, Beyonce, and more. I have already bought it on itunes. I think each song selected and played in it’s scene is appropriate. Of course, i love Leo. Seeing him as Calvin Candie and then as Jay Gatsby is brilliant. The two couldn’t be MORE opposite. He is truly one of the best actors of the 21st Century. Toby McGuire and Carey Mulligan also turned in great performances. However, I was very overtaken by Edgerton and Fischer.
Of course, the costumes and set design was spectacular. I would love to have been an extra in the dancing/party scenes…sigh.
I was quite stunned with the majority of critics on RT, but I don’t give them much hoopla anyway. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who loves the spectacular! I am looking forward to reading this book for our book club. I think reading it from an adult perspective instead of a teenage one will be quite enlightening.
I give it two thumbs up and a high five. 🙂
Oh and the eyes!!! The disconnected eyes of the book cover are so very well used and scripted into the film. They are their own character.
I love you review of it! From the bits I have seen, I agree. It opens on the 16th here but I doubt I’ll get to see it. I will be pre-ordering the DVD though!
Ozzie! Thank u for this article. I love it! I plan on seeing TGG tomorrow.
LB- Your review makes me want to see it even more. Come on be honest. I bet u were dancing while watching the party sequences?
Can I for one second focus on the costumes PLEASE!!! I promise I will be brief. Hahaha! O.k. I love the Brooks Brothers suits they are superbly tailored and the art deco seasonal colors & silhouettes are PERFECT!!! The beaded dresses from what I’ve seen in the trailers are lovely and again so well fitted. The only thing I fear for the costume designer (who appears to have done an amazing job) that the costumes don’t over power the performances and story. Other than that, I can’t wait to see more.
I don’t think the costumes overshadows the story at all! If anything they added another element to the characters. I agree with everything you said and yes I was dancing in my seat. Haha! Love that decades music.
I enjoyed it in 3D and felt it really immersed me more into the story. I think any audience member should go in with the intention to just be entertained: no expectations but that of entertainment.
My only complaint was how often Gatsbysays “old sport”. Sometimes it felt like it was being used to hold sentences together like “and” and “the”.
Oh come on now, what’s the matter, old sport? Sorry, had to do it!
Hahaha!!!!
LOL! Note to self. Don’t call LB “old sport.”
LOL, about the “old sport” bit. It does seem a bit odd when he says it. I would of loved to been a part of this. Even if I was just a fly on the wall! The party scenes look amazing!
I knew you’d love the costume videos OB! When I found those I knew they had to go in. I lost count of the amount of times I watched them. The costumes are drool worthy, lol!
Yes! The costumes are drool worthy indeed.
I can’t wait to see this film.
Hi Everyone!
I’m here a little early.
Ozzie- Have u read the book? If so how do u compare the book to the film? BTW I haven’t seen the film yet, I’m angry I had to postpone till tomorrow.
I’m getting the book today and just put the 1974 version in my queue
Hi LB!
I really liked the book. It’s very melancholy. I think u will enjoy it.
Unfortunately I haven’t read the book. 😦 But it’s definately on my list!
Its one of my favorites. I hope u can read it but I would say first see the films and then read the book. I did and it made the book that much richer.
I will do that then!
Hi OB and OZZIE! Officially. Ha 🙂
LOL! Hello LB! Hope you are well!
Hello everyone! 🙂
Hi Oz!
Hi OB!
How are you?
I’m fine how are u old sport? hahahaha!
LOL! I’ve got a headache but apart from that I’m good! 🙂
Here is one of my favorite lines from the book and I think it really sums up Gatsby and why he never gave up hope:
Chapter 1
“Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope. I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth.”
Good quote! I like that Gatsby never gives up on his hopes and dreams. It makes a change that a man in pining after a women. It seems most movies are the other way round (or it could be my headache is clouding my judgement here). The only other movie I can think of recently is 500 Days Of Summer.
ITA u rarely see men pining over women in films today. Why do u think that is?
I think it’s the machoism trend that’s being going on for a while. Fortunately it seems to be lessening off a bit!
I blame romantic comedies. Hahaha! No seriously. I think films like “When Harry Met Sally” created a new dynamic for men pursuing women on film. I could be wrong.
Actually, I was thinking about rom coms when writing my reply, lol!
Hahaha! Well there u go old sport! Great minds.
LB & Oz-Have u ever seen the 1974 film?
Unfortunately I haven’t seen that one either. Is it good?
Yes & No. On the positive side the 1974 film really captures the melancholy of the book. However, the pacing is slow and u don’t nearly feel the decadence that’s described in the book. From the trailer of the recent Gatsby it really does capture the decadence as it’s being told by Nick. I mean whenever someone draws from memory its usually over the top. So I think BL did that really well.
I did a looooooong time ago. It should be coming to my house in the next few days. 🙂
Will u see the new one again before the 1974 film? Also what do u suggest seeing it in 3-D or 2-D?
Um yes for absolutely sure on both accounts. The dance scenes and driving scenes are fantastic in 3D. It’s surprising not overwhelming with the 3D and I like that. It’s just enough to draw u in. 🙂
I have to say that Leo has some moments where he it’s just about facial expressions and hot damn…if he ver retires from acting I will be extremely sad.
Hahahaha! I like your response. So Leo should not retire from acting or else LB will be extremely depressed.
So of the two performances which one do u like best. Leo as Gatsby or Leo as Calvin in Django?
BOTH! They are so vastly different you cannot compare. He is brilliant in both. What I love about Leo is I don’t see Leo. I see Calvin and Gatsby. He has been very blessed with this talent and I appreciate how seriously he takes his work. He is flippant about it.
Oz & LB- What is it about the soundtrack u like most?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. The essence of the time period is captured through the jazz. Since jazz was more of an underground sound, just like hip hop was for a time, when you put them together you get the pulse of danger and excitement.
The more melancholy songs by Florence and Lana enhance the emotion of the characters beautifully. Of course the marriage between the actors talent and the singers interpretation of the scene(s) in which it is played lends to very powerful moments.
What a great comparison and description. Thank u!
Speaking performances. Who’s performance stood out the most?
Leo. Hahaha! Not surprising. Toby did as well. Isla stood out to me be ause I’ve never seen her in a period character role. I thought she was an excellent Myrtle. Honestly everyone was wonderful but I’m very partial to Leo.
I like the merging of the two genres. It’s well done too. Something like that you would think would fail but it doesn’t. Also I like that it helps a younger audience understand and get into the story more. The juxtaposition of the two is a perfect analogy!
The only thing I’m sad over is that the actual film score by Craig Armstrong is not out yet. It ties the two together. Like in this scene you can hear Young And Beautiful. I really love it and I want to hear it without the talking! I find film scores so beautiful!
iTunes baby!
I’ve been listening to it the last two days. 🙂
You’ve just given me an idea! Find an instrumental version of Lana Del Rey’s song. It should keep me going till it eventually get’s released. *praying it happens*
I only heard a little bit of it in this clip. It sounds beautiful.
Yes, it is and unfortunately talking over it! *huff* If they don’t release the score I think I will cry! Or throw a tantrum…. Probably both, lol!
What Is your assessment of the critics’ harsh comments? Is it about adapting a classic?
I think critics are being way too critical. U have to allow the film to find its audience and I’m sorry I’m sure the majority of people going to see this film has never read the book or have seen the 1974 film. Please! This film was about breathing new life into a classic that everyone has forgotten and I think BL has captured what he thought the book was about. THE END!!
I think one of the things I saw that kept coming up in reviews was the CGI background not going well with the live action. That the actors jumped out and the background looked flat. To me I think that was the whole point. The characters are larger than life and I think this technique helps with that. It helps with the feeling of the book too. Nick gets caught up in their world that the rest of the world fades away. I’m not sure if this was Baz’s intention. For me it works.
I would be totally ok if BL directed TBH… Just saying
Oooow! He would have an intersting take on it. I wouldn’t mind it either!
Hmm! LB-I see where your going I think. What do u think BL could bring to TBH after seeing Gatsby and Moulin Rouge?
Pure awesomeness! Haha! Seriously though I think he would bring an incredible score, talented actors whether known or unknown, as much authenticity as possible and brilliance.
I don’t think he would leave any stone unturned. Every aspect would be well suited to the story.
Great argument. And the defense rest it’s case. Hahaha!
Another music behind the scenes video. I’m only 4 minutes in but its very interesting.
O.k. I absolutely love this video and music. I’m listening to it again. Sorry will be right back.
Lol! No problem. It’s what I’m doing as well!
o.k. I’m listening to it in another window it’s on repeat. lol
Ladies, I need to go but I look forward to further discussing this here or PTSS. Have a great night! 🙂
Goodnight LB! Thanks for letting me pick your brain. TC!
Night LB!
Hi Everyone!
Hello Paris!
Everyone- I’m going to head out as well. Ozzie I have a feeling I’m going to be listening and watching your videos for awhile. Thanks for a great discussion. TC & Goodnight!
Night OB!