The latest attempt to turn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, “The Great Gatsby,” into a feature film, was full of stunning effects, but failed to pack the anticipated emotional punch. The cinematography and acting were well done, but director Baz Luhrmann’s screenplay lacked the emotional connection needed for a story filled with deceit and murder amongst friends and family.Jordan Lenhart, a senior in social work from Utah, said, “The Great Gatsby wasn’t really a movie that I would put as top notch. Even though the acting was phenomenal, I didn’t enjoy the overall energy of the film and it seemed to drag on too long. Even though the book is a classic, the movie isn’t something I’d recommend to everyone.” The visually stunning rendition of “The Great Gatsby” features cinematic effects that create an idealized world that Mr. Gatsby would be proud of. The cinematography is filled with color and special effects to make for a dreamy, exciting backdrop to the dark lives of Gatsby and gang. Luhrmann’s portrayal of ‘the roaring 20’s’ is a worthy and colorful depiction of the flapper filled prohibition period. Music featured by Jay-Z, who also was an executive producer, Beyonce, Andre 3000 and Lana Del Rey, gave the 20’s a facelift and brought the era up to date. Nick Carraway begins the movie by telling the story of Gatsby, the man with the most hope he had ever seen, to a psychiatrist who is helping him recover from his traumatic experiences earlier in life. (These experiences involved Jay Gatsby and Tom and Daisy Buchanan.) From there begins the cinematically brilliant movie, sure to depress the most positive of viewers with a dark story line and unfulfilling performances. Leonardo Di Caprio’s characterization of Jay Gatsby is sensational, as well as the performances of the supporting cast of Tobey McGuire as Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. But something lacked from the overall presentation. It was difficult to grow attached to any one character, as none emerged as a true villain or victim. Cristopher Orr, a movie critic from theatlantic.com, gave the film mediocre reviews and said, “The problem is that when the movie is entertaining it’s not Gatsby, and when it’s Gatsby it’s not entertaining.”
Writer: Jeff McLeod~Copy Editor
