The
release of Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby is all I've been thinking about for the
past three weeks and I decided it needs its own post. In Rome, I got to see an
exhibition of original props and costumes from the film and, when I got back to
Brighton, the first thing I did was run to the cinema.
There
are times when I seriously question my choice of degree, and ask myself why in
the world I decided to take Film Studies at university.
But
then come films like The Great Gatsby. The things I feel before, during
and after I watch a film like that remind me of why I chose to study film, and
every hint of doubt is gone.
It’s
a feeling hard to explain without sounding dramatic, but it’s a visceral
feeling. It is mostly a sad one, because, on my behalf, it’s a feeling of
longing, of wishing I were part of that world so bad that nothing in mine seems
good enough anymore.
In
this case, with Gatsby, it was an overall overwhelming experience, because so
many things I am obsessed with came together;
- My unconditional love for Fitzgerald’s prose, and thus his books.
Gatsby in particular, of course.
- My “golden age syndrome” of wondering what it would be like to live in
an earlier decade.
- The genius style of one of my favorite directors, Baz Luhrmann, and my
fixation with Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge.
- One of my favorite actors, Leonardo DiCaprio.
- The fact that I got to see it with my flatmate and best friend, who is
so so similar to me in this respect. We are equally passionate about the
book and Fitzgerald’s works and the glamour of the 1920s.
It
all came together so beautifully, and though many people don’t understand it,
it makes me really emotional and even jealous to an extent. Mostly because that
is what I would truly like to do with my life, be involved in magnificent,
larger than life productions like this one, and ultimately it makes me sad
because realistically I know it will not happen.
Anyway,
as an avid fan of both Fitzgerald’s and Baz Lurhmann’s work, the film for me
was an absolutely euphoric experience. My fantasies came to life, and not only
did it take me on an incredible journey through the fabulous living of that
time, it actually helped me see the book differently, which is always interesting.
It was so loyal to the book, there were scenes such as when we first see Daisy
and Jordan on the couch where, watching the scene, I remembered precisely what
paragraph it was from and the descriptions in it. To me it felt like
Fitzgerald’s prose translated into images. Many criticize the music but I
thought that (not only did it sound absolutely badass), but he actively chose
to put hip hop in scenes where there would originally have been jazz as hip hop
is the modern equivalent of the outrageous and rebellious style of music. Oh,
and there were so many shots where I was screaming “MOULIN ROUGE!” and
“ROMEO+JULIET!” in my head!
In
addition, when I first found out Leo would play Gatsby
I was entirely against it, thinking someone like Tom Hiddleston would have been
more appropriate. I take it all back a million percent. Leo was born for this
role, he couldn’t have convinced me more.
It
exasperates me to see how shallowly critics are negatively responding to Baz’s
Gatsby, critics who play overly intellectual and are never satisfied infuriate
me.
I simply do not
understand how fans of Fitzgerald’s novel can actually believe the film to be
too ‘theatrical’. Luhrmann is the ideal director to capture the emptiness of
the excess of that era that Fitzgerald criticizes. The entire character of Jay Gatsby is all about mise-en-scène.
I find it
unbearably aggravating how just because a few critics begin by saying this
everyone follows along. Do not even get me started on those who state if
you’re a real fan of the book, you won’t like the film. Cinema is after all about losing yourself in a magical spectacle for a couple of hours. Just sit back, let
Baz take you on his spectacular journey through his vision of Gatsby and,
pardon my French, but get that stick out of your asses.
I
could write about this film (as well as about the novel) and the things it made
me feel for hours on end but, overall, watching it holding hands emotionally
with my friend who understood and felt the same way as me made it all the more
perfect. We decided not to go dressed up to the cinema, but after the film we
were so overwhelmed that we decided we had to dress up as flappers, get drunk
at the beach to forget it’s 2013 and then went dancing at a jazz club.
I
couldn’t have asked for a more perfect adaptation.
 |
| Original costumes and props from the film |
Oh, did I mention I've gone blonde?! Check it.
I'm now back in england and have exams for the next three weeks, then my three month summer begins!
What did you think of Gatsby?
x C
