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re: Gatsby
Posted on 5/13/13 at 8:26 am to GoCrazyAuburn
Posted on 5/13/13 at 8:26 am to GoCrazyAuburn
I got to see it last night. I havent read the book, but gf had. I loved it and she liked it but said book was better (duh).
2
Posted on 5/13/13 at 10:00 am to Civildawg
I taught this book for 5 years to high school students; it was my favorite book to teach.
I really liked the Luhrmann film. I always thought he was the right person to direct it.
What's good: faithfulness to the novel, the 1st half party scenes are stupendous--pure eye candy, DiCaprio and Edgerton's performances, Tobey Maguire brings life to Nick in a way Waterston couldn't/didn't, it's interesting to look at unlike the Reford version.
What's bad: Some of the anachronisms (like the blacks with the white driver) took me right out of the world Luhrmann was creating; Jordan Baker is a cheat--that's how she becomes a champion golfer--I didn't totally buy Nick telling her off at the point he did--the motivation was lacking
The worst performance, IMO, was Carey Mulligan. Not because she's a bad actress; it's that she's TOO GOOD. Luhrmann and Mulligan seemed to want to fill Daisy out and give her some depth. The film is really clear that she loved/loves Gatsby, but, in the book, it's always ambiguous as to whether or nor she's playing him to give Tom a taste of his own medicine. I didn't buy that she was shallow enough or vapid enough to do what she did. Her compliments to Nick at the beginning seem sincere when they should just be inane babble. The lack of direct appearance of Tom's physical abuse on her was troubling. Again, she was played too strong.
Still, overall, I thought it was a great adaptation. My quibbles are about slight details and minor interpretations.
I really liked the Luhrmann film. I always thought he was the right person to direct it.
What's good: faithfulness to the novel, the 1st half party scenes are stupendous--pure eye candy, DiCaprio and Edgerton's performances, Tobey Maguire brings life to Nick in a way Waterston couldn't/didn't, it's interesting to look at unlike the Reford version.
What's bad: Some of the anachronisms (like the blacks with the white driver) took me right out of the world Luhrmann was creating; Jordan Baker is a cheat--that's how she becomes a champion golfer--I didn't totally buy Nick telling her off at the point he did--the motivation was lacking
The worst performance, IMO, was Carey Mulligan. Not because she's a bad actress; it's that she's TOO GOOD. Luhrmann and Mulligan seemed to want to fill Daisy out and give her some depth. The film is really clear that she loved/loves Gatsby, but, in the book, it's always ambiguous as to whether or nor she's playing him to give Tom a taste of his own medicine. I didn't buy that she was shallow enough or vapid enough to do what she did. Her compliments to Nick at the beginning seem sincere when they should just be inane babble. The lack of direct appearance of Tom's physical abuse on her was troubling. Again, she was played too strong.
Still, overall, I thought it was a great adaptation. My quibbles are about slight details and minor interpretations.
Posted on 5/19/13 at 2:40 pm to bluestem75
Nice post and I agree with most of what you said. I re-read the novel last fall in anticipation of the originally scheduled Christmas release so unfortunately it wasn't as fresh in my mind today as I planned for it to be upon viewing the film. That said, I thought it stayed very true to the book, and in a good way.
Leo is of course fantastic and was a brilliant Gatsby, as expected.
I agree to some extent with those who said the movie reveals the weakness of the main storyline in the novel, but that's not the film's fault. Ultimately, I don't think it was a "great" movie per se, but I really enjoyed it - mainly because it stayed true to the book, which is one of my favorites, and Leo was a great Gatsby.
Leo is of course fantastic and was a brilliant Gatsby, as expected.
I agree to some extent with those who said the movie reveals the weakness of the main storyline in the novel, but that's not the film's fault. Ultimately, I don't think it was a "great" movie per se, but I really enjoyed it - mainly because it stayed true to the book, which is one of my favorites, and Leo was a great Gatsby.
Posted on 5/20/13 at 8:26 am to bluestem75
quote:
I didn't buy that she was shallow enough or vapid enough to do what she did. Her compliments to Nick at the beginning seem sincere when they should just be inane babble
quote:
My quibbles are about slight details and minor interpretations
That's the problem...I don't think your first "quote" is a "slight detail". In this particular adaptation Daisy has far too many redeeming qualities (including what you mentioned about her feelings toward Gatsby). In the book Daisy revels in being the "beautiful little fool" throughout, acting without care or deference. It simply does not come off here at all.
They also missed the mark on the scene at the Plaza...considering how much tension there was in the book, it felt hollow. Turning Carraway into an alcoholic in a sanitarium was simply lazy...it eliminated any possibility of giving the character depth and relegated him to a bystander. I thought Edgerton was fantastic.
Ultimately, Gatsby is tremendously difficult to translate to film. If done properly, you have a movie about Nick Carraway...which is probably best left to Fitzgerald in novel form anyway.
This post was edited on 5/20/13 at 10:35 am
Posted on 5/22/13 at 12:06 pm to brgfather129
I watched it last night in 3d. Didn't enjoy 3D, but I've never liked 3D movies.
My favorite thing in the movie was the use of the music. I thought the way they brought in modern music flowed way better than I expected.
My favorite thing in the movie was the use of the music. I thought the way they brought in modern music flowed way better than I expected.
Posted on 5/22/13 at 12:33 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
Is there spoilers?
What's the general consensus? How did Leo do?
What's the general consensus? How did Leo do?
Posted on 5/22/13 at 12:37 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Shouldn't be any spoilers, at least I don't remember any.
I thought Leo was amazing as Gatsby. He really brought some life to it that Redford could not.
I thought Leo was amazing as Gatsby. He really brought some life to it that Redford could not.
Posted on 5/22/13 at 1:04 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
Is there spoilers?
Have you not read the book?
Did you go to high school?
Posted on 5/22/13 at 1:10 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
Toby McGuire was terrible. I kept waiting for web to shoot out of his hands. Having to hear his voice the entire movie as narrator was hard to withstand.
Having said that, I enjoyed the movie. Leo, Michelle Williams, and the Tom Buchanan actor were great (guy from Warrior). The visuals were also great and I liked the contemporary music and spin.
It was a 6/10 and could've been an 8/10 if Nick Carraway was cast better. It should have been a no name great actor from Broadway or something.
Having said that, I enjoyed the movie. Leo, Michelle Williams, and the Tom Buchanan actor were great (guy from Warrior). The visuals were also great and I liked the contemporary music and spin.
It was a 6/10 and could've been an 8/10 if Nick Carraway was cast better. It should have been a no name great actor from Broadway or something.
This post was edited on 5/22/13 at 1:12 pm
Posted on 6/2/13 at 12:35 am to TheCaterpillar
4/10. Tobey did not impress.
Perhaps Leo should have played Toby's part?
Perhaps Leo should have played Toby's part?
Posted on 6/2/13 at 9:18 am to FootballNostradamus
quote:
I'm probably not the best judge cause as I've said a million times in discussions about the book, I just don't think it's a very good story and it shows in the movie.
Someone once said about The Great Gatsby -- "The beauty of Gatsby isn't in the story, it's in the telling of the story." It's Fitzgerald's prose which makes it a beautiful book. And, that will always be hard to translate into cinema.
Posted on 6/2/13 at 9:24 am to PurpleNGoldFan
quote:
Don't like seeing rap music in a movie about the 1920s.
I thought that this was the best part, although "rap music" wasn't the only modern music played. It instantly made the characters relatable as young partiers. Had they played music from the 20's we would have looked at them as old people.
As a movie, I thought that it was just ok. It was better than I expected, but I went in with fairly low expectations. And I never read the book before. Had I read it, I think that I might have liked it less.
Posted on 6/2/13 at 10:23 am to GoCrazyAuburn
Liked it. Was a good movie although a few too many rap songs for me. Was expecting power jazz. Leo was good. Scene where he loses control was very good. Hated Nick Carraway. Was a pussy in the book and a pussy in the movie.
Posted on 6/2/13 at 10:54 am to GoCrazyAuburn
quote:
Jack Dawson… Penniless artist who wins a ticket onto Titanic in 1912, attends a first class dinner, develops a taste for the finer things in life, pockets the Heart of the Ocean, survives the sinking, pawns the diamond, spends the following ten years building his wealth and in 1922 moves to West Egg as Jay Gatsby… Millionaire with a shady past and fear of swimming pools.
Posted on 6/2/13 at 12:38 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
I like the movie. I like the story of The Great Gatsby. The acting was great. It was kind of odd seeing it in 2d, because some parts are obviously made for 3d. I did not like the radio music that was shoved there, it felt very forced. And i feel the music is not going to allow the film to hold up over tinge very well.
Posted on 6/2/13 at 1:37 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
I like the movie. I like the story of The Great Gatsby. The acting was great. It was kind of odd seeing it in 2d, because some parts are obviously made for 3d. I did not like the radio music that was shoved there, it felt very forced. And i feel the music is not going to allow the film to hold up over tinge very well.
Posted on 6/3/13 at 1:40 am to Civildawg
I disagree with some of the nicer posts. I didn't like the movie.
I think there are certain points where Baz tried to out write Fitzgerald and he just can't. I think Tobey is an extremely wimpy Nick. I don't think they ever give you a reason to dislike Jordan Baker. Wilson came off as retarded.
There were several other parts that were just bad.
I think there are certain points where Baz tried to out write Fitzgerald and he just can't. I think Tobey is an extremely wimpy Nick. I don't think they ever give you a reason to dislike Jordan Baker. Wilson came off as retarded.
There were several other parts that were just bad.
Posted on 6/3/13 at 9:56 am to lsunurse
quote:
But I'm a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann movies.
I don't understand how anyone could be a huge fan of this guys work. It's way too overdone.
I'll say that his need to make everything extravagant fits the Gatsby story. I know what to expect, although I have yet to see the film, as far as cinematography goes. There will be plenty of times where it looks beautiful, along with times where I will want to punch something because of Luhrmann's need to overdue things. Leo is my favorite actor, so I will see it because of him and the fact that I like the story.
Posted on 6/3/13 at 6:37 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
I have not read the whole thread but I will share my thoughts anyway. I am glad that I found a thread to read some other peoples ideas about the movie.
I really enjoyed the movie but I agree that things seemed off. I have read the book several times and while I love the book, I believe it is a hard book to translate into a movie.
What I personally disliked was the way that Gatsby was portrayed. He felt weak, out of control, and child like in the movie. In the book, I felt as though there was a little bit more mystery to his character that left him to our imagination.
I really enjoyed the movie but I agree that things seemed off. I have read the book several times and while I love the book, I believe it is a hard book to translate into a movie.
What I personally disliked was the way that Gatsby was portrayed. He felt weak, out of control, and child like in the movie. In the book, I felt as though there was a little bit more mystery to his character that left him to our imagination.
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