The Great Gatsby [2013]

Language - English
Director - Baz Luhrmann
Run Time - 2 hours, 23 minutes
Genre - Drama

Woah. Baz Luhrmann treats you to a extravaganza. Were the parties in the 1920's really this great? Then I would not mind travelling in the past. Even though the plot of the movie is not that strong, you will definitely be fascinated by the sets and the costumes. Some of the best cinematography I've seen. People might call it style over substance, but to me Lurhmann made the best attempt to attract an audience to a story set over almost a century back.

The weak plot is overlooked by the brilliant performance of the cast. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the finest actors of our generation, and he so brilliantly portrays the protagonist, the charismatic and dynamic Jay Gatsby. The acting of Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton as Daisy and Tom Buchanan is also laudable. I've always considered them both to be outstanding, but under-rated actors. Same cannot be said about Tobey Maguire. As Nick Carraway, the narrator of the movie, he is an utter dissapointment. Casting someone else, would have definitely made a positive change to the movie.

The movie starts off with Nick Carraway [Tobey] being shown with his doctor, who is helping Nick get over his alcoholism. From there we jump to a flashback, onto New York in 1922, where it all started. Nick has moved to New York to pursue a job as a bond salesman, where his neighbor is none other than the mysterious 'Great Gatsby' who throws lavish parties year round but no one has even seen him. Nick's has a cousin named Daisy, who is married to her rich and deceitful husband [note:Isla Fisher]. Long story short, Daisy and Jay were once in love, and intend to be together again. We have the saga in form of this movie.

The buildup of the movie is quite good, with the mysterious persona of Jay Gatsby, but once we get to REAL story, there's nothing much left in the plot, and it goes downhill from there. The actors hold the movie together.

The soundtrack of the film is also marvelous, with tracks from Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lana Del Ray, Florence Wench and Amy Wnehouse, among others. The song Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Ray is one of the best songs by her ever.

Watch this movie, to admire the cinematography, sets and the costumes; and/or if you're a fan of DiCaprio, Edgerton and Mulligan. Isla Fisher could have been provided by more screen time.

My Rating - 7/10