The Great Gatsby 2013: A Spectacular and Emotional Film Adaptation

Movies Posted by oddplanet on Thu, Aug 10th, 2023 @ 11:20:18 AM 1

The Great Gatsby is a 2013 film adaptation of the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. The film is a lavish and visually stunning spectacle that captures the decadence, glamour and tragedy of the Jazz Age in New York. The film follows the story of Nick Carraway, a young writer who moves to Long Island and becomes fascinated by his mysterious neighbor Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who throws extravagant parties and harbors a secret love for Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan. The film explores themes of wealth, class, love, betrayal and the American dream.

In this blog post, I will discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of the film, as well as compare it to the original novel and other adaptations. I will also share my personal opinion on whether the film does justice to Fitzgerald’s masterpiece or not.

Cinematography

To do so, I will start with the cinematography, which is one of the most impressive aspects of the film. Luhrmann uses a variety of techniques to create a dazzling and immersive experience for the viewers, such as fast-paced editing, sweeping camera movements, 3D effects and vibrant colors. The film also features some iconic scenes from the novel, such as Gatsby’s parties, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, the valley of ashes and the car accident. The cinematography helps to convey the mood and atmosphere of each scene, as well as the contrast between the different social classes and settings.

Another remarkable element of the film is the music, which is a mix of contemporary and classic songs that reflect the spirit of the era. The soundtrack includes artists such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine and Jack White, among others. The music adds to the energy and emotion of the film, as well as creates a connection between the past and the present. Some of the songs are directly related to the plot or the characters, such as “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey, which expresses Gatsby’s longing for Daisy, or “Back to Black” by Beyoncé and Andre 3000, which plays during Myrtle’s death scene. The music also enhances some of the most memorable moments of the film, such as “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie, Q-Tip and GoonRock, which accompanies one of Gatsby’s parties, or “Over The Love” by Florence and the Machine, which plays during Gatsby’s funeral.

The film has been compared to other adaptations of The Great Gatsby, such as the 1974 version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, or the 2000 version starring Toby Stephens and Mira Sorvino. Some critics have praised Luhrmann’s film for being more faithful to the novel than previous versions, especially in terms of capturing its themes and symbolism. Others have criticized it for being too flashy and over-the-top, losing some of the subtlety and nuance of Fitzgerald’s writing. Some have also argued that Luhrmann’s choice of modern music is anachronistic and distracting, while others have defended it as a creative way of bridging the gap between generations. Personally, I think that Luhrmann’s film is a unique and original interpretation of The Great Gatsby that respects its source material but also adds its own flair and vision.

The next aspect of the film that I will discuss is the casting, which is another crucial factor in any adaptation. The film features some of Hollywood’s most popular and talented actors in the roles of Fitzgerald’s iconic characters. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan plays Daisy Buchanan, Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway, Joel Edgerton plays Tom Buchanan, Isla Fisher plays Myrtle Wilson and Elizabeth Debicki plays Jordan Baker. The cast delivers excellent performances that bring their characters to life with charisma and emotion.

The plot of the film is largely faithful to the novel, with some minor changes and additions. The film follows Nick Carraway as he narrates his experience in New York in 1922, where he meets Jay Gatsby, a mysterious man who lives in a mansion next to his modest cottage. Nick learns that Gatsby is in love with his cousin Daisy Buchanan, who is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy but unfaithful man who has an affair with Myrtle Wilson, a mechanic’s wife who lives in a desolate area known as the valley of ashes. Gatsby hopes to win back Daisy by impressing her with his wealth and parties, but his dream is shattered by a series of events that lead to tragedy and disillusionment.

The plot of the film explores some of the major themes of Fitzgerald’s novel, such as:

– The American dream: Gatsby represents the ideal of self-made success in America, but his dream is corrupted by his involvement in illegal activities and his obsession with Daisy. His dream is also contrasted with the reality of the social inequality and moral decay of the 1920s.
– The green light: The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s hope and desire for Daisy, as well as his past and future. The green light also represents the illusion and the unattainability of his dream, as he realizes that Daisy is not the same as he remembered her and that she cannot erase her past with Tom.
– The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg: The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg are a billboard that overlooks the valley of ashes, where Myrtle lives and dies. The eyes are a symbol of the loss of spiritual values and the lack of moral guidance in the modern society, as well as the indifference and judgment of God or fate.
– The valley of ashes: The valley of ashes is a wasteland that lies between West Egg and New York City, where the poor and the working class live. The valley of ashes represents the dark side of the American dream, the consequences of the greed and corruption of the upper class, and the moral decay of the society.
– The East and West Egg: The East and West Egg are two areas on Long Island where Nick and Gatsby live, respectively. The East Egg represents the old money, the established aristocracy, while the West Egg represents the new money, the self-made entrepreneurs. The East and West Egg also symbolize the difference between appearance and reality, as Gatsby tries to fit in with the East Egg society by pretending to be someone he is not.

The last aspect of the film that I will discuss is the symbolism, which is one of the most important features of Fitzgerald’s novel. Luhrmann’s film uses various symbols to convey deeper meanings and messages about the characters and their situations. Some of the symbols are:

– The green light: As mentioned before, the green light represents Gatsby’s hope and desire for Daisy, as well as his past and future. It also symbolizes his illusion and his unattainability of his dream.
– The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg: As mentioned before, the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg represent the loss of spiritual values and the lack of moral guidance in the modern society, as well as the indifference and judgment of God or fate.
– The valley of ashes: As mentioned before, the valley of ashes represents the dark side of the American dream, the consequences of the greed and corruption of the upper class, and the moral decay of the society.
– The East and West Egg: As mentioned before, the East and West Egg represent the old money and the new money, respectively, as well as the difference between appearance and reality.
– The yellow car: The yellow car is a symbol of wealth, power and corruption. It is also a symbol of death, as it is used by Tom to drive to his affair with Myrtle, and by Daisy to hit Myrtle and kill her.
– The clock: The clock is a symbol of time, fate and destiny. It also symbolizes Gatsby’s attempt to stop time and recreate his past with Daisy. When Gatsby knocks over a clock in Nick’s house during his reunion with Daisy, it shows his nervousness and his fear of losing her again.
– The shirts: The shirts are a symbol of Gatsby’s wealth, status and extravagance. They also symbolize his love for Daisy, as he shows them to her to impress her and make her cry.
– The books: The books are a symbol of Gatsby’s intelligence, education and ambition. They also symbolize his deception, as he has never read them and only uses them to create an image of himself.

In conclusion, I think that Luhrmann’s film is a brilliant adaptation of Fitzgerald’s novel that captures its essence and spirit while adding its own style and vision. The film has some flaws, such as being too flashy or over-the-top at times, but it also has many strengths, such as its cinematography, music, casting, plot and symbolism. I would recommend this film to anyone who loves Fitzgerald’s novel or who wants to enjoy a spectacular and emotional cinematic experience.