To start, the book is one of my favourites. I know you haven't read it, but once you're done you'll understand why. It's one of the few things I understand more the older I get. Not that I'm old but it still changes. I used to think Gatsby was a whiny bitch, now he's more sympathetic. And that goes for many of the characters. I used to think the symbolism was over the top... know I know why it was. This period nothing was spoken of, just alluded to. It's a style and a way of being I appreciate. It's tact, which I didn't understand before. The book is an image of something. I see it as I like. I love Nick Carraway, I love the scenery, the words that speak to me in small bits of narration that feel as though I could speak them. The narrator is a bit of everyone and no one at the same time. I simply love it, because I form it. The first film, it was hard to love because of these things, but Robert Redford was an amazing Gatsby. I loved him very much. Also Mia Farrow is a favourite of mine so the movie was passable. It survived, and in no way did it act as something that it wasn't. It kept it simple. As you can see, I'm slowly building to a comparison. This film I recommend, if you like the book. Lastly, because this was the purpose anyways, my thoughts on Baz Luhrmann's 2013, The Great Gatsby. I will try not to taint the movie for you, because I do think it is something you need to see for yourself, after the text of course. Firstly, I hated how much he stole from his own movie, Moulin Rouge. It begins exactly the same, a broken writer, at first fresh faced in a new city. It did try to mimic some of his style but on Gatsby it pulled you out of the film rather than pushed you in. It felt forced, and just poorly done. The party scenes were fun, uncharacteristic of the 20s and had me begging for some Boardwalk Empire style, but fun. Amazing soundtrack, some of which fit, some of which didn't. I wasn't going to argue considering the talent of the artists, but again, forced. The acting, I'll admit it started at a low point. Everyone was over the top, trying to be something their character wasn't. More like a caricature or stereotype from the twenties and not something true. When Gatsby enters, this all changes. As you know, Leonardo DiCaprio is far from one of my favourite actors. He does have a lot of talent, more so now then before, but I can always find problems with him. In this case, he carried the film. He was special. He brought the Gatsby from the book to life. He was true, and everyone who acted around him changed as well. They upped their game, and made it worth watching. It's slow at points, but he carries it well. My only other problem with it, is it makes what is inferred in the novel, fact in the film. It took away the element of gossip which fuels Gatsby and makes it into a definite. I hate having things tell me what to think. So in that respect, it's wrong. Also, the costumes were lovely. -Guildenstern.
