Movie is simply an overlong and poorly edited slog.
By Deepak Chitnis
Adapting any novel is never an easy task, but when that novel is one of the most beloved works of American literature of the past century, it’s an uphill battle. Baz Luhrmann comes close but never quite cracks the code to make The Great Gatsby worth the translation from page to screen. When the film works, it’s spellbinding. Unfortunately, that only happens every now and then, and the film lasts almost two-and-a-half hours.
The story is well-known by now, but in case you never F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, the film is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway (Maguire), a young bond salesman who moves to the fictional New York City neighborhood of West Egg during the roaring 1920s. East Egg, situated across a pond from West Egg, is home to Nick’s cousin Daisy (Mulligan), who’s married to rich socialite Tom (Edgerton). Carraway finds out soon that the house he’s renting is next door to an enigmatic figure known as Gatsby, who one day extends Carraway an invitation to a lavish party at his house. It is here that Gatsby (DiCaprio) reveals himself to Nick, quickly becoming his friend and then revealing his true intentions to him: he wants to marry Daisy, the woman of his dreams who he once had a passionate affair with before he had to leave to fight in the war.
What happens afterward is best left discovered on your own, though I’d recommend reading the book rather than seeing the film. It’s not that the film is a disaster by any means, but simply an overlong and poorly edited slog. The first half gets buried under seemingly endless exposition, as all the characters and locations are clumsily set up via voice-over narration and on-screen text (one of the laziest cinematic devices imaginable). Gatsby himself takes at least thirty minutes to make his first appearance, although when he finally does, it’s certainly worth the wait. Thankfully, the film’s second half picks up the pace considerably, and despite the fact that the film sticks fairly close to the novel, the story feels fresh.
A lot of that freshness is thanks to Luhrmann’s impeccable showmanship. The director, responsible for 1996’s Romeo + Juliet (also starring DiCaprio) and 2001’s Moulin Rouge!, steeps the film in rich period details and lavish colors. A lot of money went into building the film’s sets and costumes, and every penny of that investment shows on the screen. Filmed in 3D, the added dimension is neither amazing nor terrible; the best thing I can say about it is that it didn’t cause me a headache. The anachronistic soundtrack, containing songs by Jay-Z and Lana Del Ray, actually fits pretty perfectly with the film, and underscores the spectacle and regality of the film’s setting and characters.
The performances are all strong, with DiCaprio being the standout (as usual). His Gatsby is an egotist with a soft heart, and he plays the character’s inherent duplicity remarkably well. Carey Mulligan does a decent job, but she lacks the charm and looks to really make you believe that she could drive men as crazy as she supposedly does. Joel Edgerton is very good as Tom Buchanan, the film’s de facto villain. Only Tobey Maguire seems to suffer; Carraway is a bland character even in the book, but Maguire does little to spice him up, and the script doesn’t really do a whole lot to help him out. Supporting roles by Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, and Amitabh Bachchan are all fine; each actor plays their part with the requisite pomp and melodrama, never drawing overt attention to themselves.
Chances are you already know whether or not The Great Gatsby is your cup of tea. The film looks spectacular on the big screen, but it’s at least twenty minutes too long and the pacing is all over the place. If you’re a rabid fan of the book, go ahead and catch a matinee. Everyone else can wait for it to show up in their local RedBox.
The Great Gatsby
Released May 10th, 2013
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Amitabh Bachchan
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Rating: C+
Seen in 3D.
To contact the author, e-mail: deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com