I read the book years ago and my girlie read/studied it much more recently. I loved the Robert Redford version, although not as much as the book, as I recall. I think it will be colourful, lavish and will assault the senses. If it is half as good as Moulin Rouge it will be good enough for me. Hannah (girlie) is concerned that Carey Mulligan will ruin her character- having seen her in 'Shame' I think/hope she will not.

Why did you think he is gay? Is it the bright colours and lavish costumes? That would be a stereotyping thing going on there. 

So, we've seen the film. Now for the verdict...

Leonardo di Caprio is absolutely, astoundingly wonderful in this as the lead character- more about this later.

Visually the film is a treat, costumes, sets and some great cinematographic moments. There are some great close up, two camera focused scenes. The use of text on screen (sound familiar?) was very effective, especially the switch from handwritten to typewritten script.

Musically, there are some wonderful moments of original scored music and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (for example). We are not totally convinced by the mixture of modern with music of the time. The scene which uses Lana Del Rey's track is however utterly brilliant, focussing on Gatsby the whole time.

Daisy (Carey Mulligan) is, disappointingly, portrayed as something of a victim in this film. She is NOT a victim in the book. She IS a first rate bitch in the novel. This is disappointing because it makes her treatment of Gatsby seem more reasonable, less careless. Her child is only shown right near the end which is odd and loses possible impact.
Tom (Joel Edgerton) is well played but again not really faithful to the book.
Nick (Tobey Maguire) again is portrayed differently in the book. He should be a less than reliable narrator but this is only once alluded to in the film. His placement in a sanatorium, whilst giving a motivation for writing down the story, is perhaps an error because it encourages the viewer to feel sympathy towards him whereas ALL the sympathy should be directed towards Gatsby.

Gatsby's death could perhaps have been shown in a different way, perhaps more indirectly and using the lilo in the pool as in the original story. I know that I should have been deeply upset by his death but I wasn't (the novel is, frankly heartbreaking). This was not because of the portrayal of the character by Di Caprio (he is wonderful in it) but because too many excuses are made for Daisy's actions/betrayal e.g. his attacking Tom when he loses his temper, which does not happen in the book.

Di Caprio's portrayal, as I have said, is meticulous. From the physicality, his jittering with nervousness, the emotion he can convey with his eyes, face, hands and voice. Truly a master class. Such a talent, it is hard to credit that he has never won an Oscar!

Overall then: a great cinematic experience but not a faithful portrayal (if that is the correct word) of the original book. My daughter studied this for A level only a short while ago, so she found some of the changes particularly grating and was bitterly disappointed with Tobey Maguire's 'reading' of the final words of the novel. A story which can make you sob whilst reading it should be able to do the same on the big screen. Less fiddling with an original story (the removal of Jay's father from the picture is another weird decision), which is generally accepted as a literary masterpiece, would have done the job!

I would still recommend going to see this film though. Then read the book! It is by J. Scott Fitzgerald.

Last edited by Davina (May 21, 2013 9:46 pm)

I loved the parties. They were absolutely spot on. Daisy was likeable wasn't she, but then unfortunately she shouldn't really be likeable. I agree about the way Tom convinces Wilson. I think they should have stuck to the way this was dealt with in the book. The therapy works as a vehicle but maybe generates too much sympathy for Nick when the focus should be on Gatsby (it is his tragedy after all, not Nick's). Unfortunately one doesn't know how faithful or otherwise a film is to a story unless one watches it.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the film. I would recommend everyone to go and watch it on the big screen (I think watching it only on a DVD later you will not get the full effect of the big set pieces).

I think that the movies and the books show the dangers of obsession.  Gatsby was obsessed with Daisy for years and it led to his destruction.  He'd raised himself from extreme poverty and made a life for himself.  Despite the fact that Daisy was married, had a kid, and was reluctant to leave her husband, he kept insisting that she tell him she never loved him, and could not see that she did love her husband. He let his obsession cloud his view of reality.  A lot of people blamed Daisy, maybe she should have done something to stop her husband setting Gatsby up, but Gatsby wasn't entirely innocent.
But I did love the film a lot more than I expected to.