Based
on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s infamous
1925 novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a
sparkling, signature Baz Luhrmann
production about a mystery millionare who harbours a romantic obsession for
stunning socialite Daisy Buchanan. It
boasts a stellar cast showcasing the talents of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher and Al
Pacino and is from the perspective of wide-eyed Yale graduate Nick Carraway who
happens to become Jay Gatsby’s
neighbour.
The New
York City based filming began back in September 2011, most likely due to Luhrmann’s want for precision and utter
elegance in his work. His adaptation is spectacular yet lovingly loyal to Fitzgerald’s novel and truly showcases
the extravagance and moral decay of the upper classes in America in the early
1920s. From the costumes, to lighting to special effects, setting and
soundtracks, ‘The Great Gatsby’
certainly doesn’t do things by halves.
Behind the
lavish sets and mis-en-scene, the film tells the timeless, heart-rending tale
of doomed love and being unable to change the past. Philandering Gatsby surrounds himself with hoards of
extravagance but seeks the one thing that would make his life complete- his one
true love (of course!) The incredible luxury showcased on screen is truly
indulgent and depicts enviable wealth, particularly with Gatsby’s swish cars and stunningly over-the-top parties. There’s a
flurry of rapid editing that fans of Luhrmann’s
will be familiar with from ‘Moulin
Rouge!’ (2001) and refuses to let you lull into contentment with the
character’s paths. The most captivating aspect of Australian-born Lurhmann’s work is consistently his eye
for detail combined with tragedy.
Baz also reintroduced Leonardo DiCaprio as his leading man
after the two worked together on ‘Romeo +
Juliet’ (1996), proving that he recognises a good thing when he sees it. DiCaprio illustrates his astounding
emotional capabilities as an actor, as well as undefinable on-screen presence. Even
Tobey McGuire’s acting efforts don’t
fail to disappoint, despite his bland performances in the Spiderman films. He
conveys all the innocence, intrigue and compassion that the narrating character
of Nick Carraway requires and Carey Mulligan has a wonderful
vulnerability and sense of pain behind her eyes.
Each
indulgent frame of the 142-minite spectacle is saturated in glorious colour,
opulence and striking scenery. One notable location is included the International College of Management in Sydney, which was used for the exterior
of Gatsby’s Disney-worthy mansion, but many of the vast settings
were enhanced in post-production. These occasional style-over-substance flairs
have already seeped into our lives, through an invasion of 1920s-inspired
fashion, increased sales of the original novel and a charming, varied
soundtrack produced by Jay-Z (who is
also an executive producer) and The
Bullits.
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Released
on 7th May, the Jazz-era soundtrack with a Hip-Hop twist features
the likes of Beyoncé, Florence and the
Machine, Andre 3000 and of course, Lana Del Ray’s haunting ‘Young and Beautiful’, that showcases
the story’s underlying heartbreak. It’s also the ‘The Great Gatsby’s’ buzz single appeared on the film’s original
trailer. Luhrmann’s unusual blend of
noteworthy historical eras and cultures and modern soundtracks has worked
seamlessly in the past, and doesn’t fail to disappoint on this occasion. Del Ray’s haunting track features
several times in various styles and does exactly what a film score should- highlights
the on-screen emotion and exciting escapades of the characters.
The
frenzied, artistic polish of the film is emphasised by features such as a
billboard featuring a pair of poignant eyes that reoccurs several times in the
story, particularly during crucial scenes. The image merges effortlessly into
the concoction of editing styles and perspectives and is similar in many ways
to ‘Moulin Rouge’ in terms of editing
style and retrospective under layer. Even Nick
Carraway’s interwoven retrospective elements, revealing his depressed,
alcoholic future is flawlessly edited with bleak shades and plenty of woeful
expressions. The epic sweeping shots that seem to have become something of
habit for Luhrmann show his desire as a director to keep his audience
intrigued, along with the fact that ‘The
Great Gatsby’ is drowning in CGI.
It’s clear
from start to finish that Baz Luhrmann
does extravagance and simplicity equally well and his all-star cast have helped
create an energetic, sumptuous piece of cinema that portrays the materialism
and booze rages of the early 1920s. This concluding chapter to the so-called Red Curtain Trilogy is glamorous and fizzes
with melodrama in all the right places.
It’s an
all-singing, all-dancing flick that has breathed life into a classic and
latches onto the curiosity of modern culture into the immensely wealthy. Think
‘Made in Chelsea’ with real pain,
overindulgence and vibrancy and an $120 million price tag.
4/5
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