Film Review

The Great Gatsby (2013)

You may think you have been to a few good parties in your time, but nothing compares to what director of The Great Gatsby Baz Luhrmann's are like.

Set in 1922,  Lurhmann's adaption of the famous Fitzgerald's novel is about society living life to the full, unaware of the disaster looming around the corner. The story is narrated by Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), a wannabe writer who moves to New York to become a stockbroker and ends up living in a cottage next to the mysterious and incredibly wealthy Jay Gatsby played by Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio. Nick and Gatsby soon become acquaintances and so Gatsby asks Nick to arrange a meeting between Gatsby and Nick's cousin Daisy, portrayed by Carey Mulligan the love of Gatsby's life. Carey Mulligan is superb as Daisy, capturing the breathlessness and vibrancy of the character.

Gatsby is known for throwing the most extravagant parties in New York yet very few of his party guests know who Gatsby is or what he looks like. DiCaprio does a good job of Gatsby with the annoying tendency to overuse the term 'Old Sport'

Of course, you can't mention the blockbuster hit of 2013 without mentioning the genius sound track from Luhrmann. The music styles range from Hip-Hop courtesy of Jay Z to swinging jazz music courtesy of The Bryan Ferry Orchestra. The award winning soundtrack has the vital role of getting the Gatsby parties started.

Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby might not reach the dizzying heights of Fitzgerald's novel, but he gives it a good shot, old sport.