The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby (2013)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher
Director: Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann does nothing by halves. The flamboyant, over the top, director is known for his extravagant and often over budget lavish productions. This remake of the classic 1925 novel, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stands firmly among his previous efforts for it's opulence.

Set in the 1920's, in New York City, this is the story of a love affair that spans classes and survives a war.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the mysterious Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who throws the loudest parties New York has ever seen, sparing no expense most weekends at his bayside mansion. Tobey Maguire plays the meek and gullible Nick Carraway, who happens to move into the tiny keepers cottage next door to the Gatsby mansion and thanks to his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, (Carey Mulligan), gets embroiled in a dramatic series of events that will change his life forever.

The story unfolds through Nicks eyes, told in flashback, as he comes to terms with the enormous U-turn his life takes when he moves in next door to the enigmatic Jay Gatsby.

Nick goes to visit Daisy and her well off husband, who live across the bay from the tiny little keepers cottage and is immediately introduced to the fabulously wealthy lifestyle that accompanies his cousin and all those who surround her.

When Nick finds a personal invitation from Mr Gatsby to join him at one of his parties, Nick accepts and finds himself in a world beyond his imagining. The party scenes are bright, vibrant, colourful, opulent, extreme, and every bit conjured up inside the head of Baz Luhrmann.

Before too long, we discover that Daisy and Jay were in love before the war, but Daisy believed she would never see the love of her life again, and so she marries Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) instead. When she comes face to face with Jay after many years, she finds herself dreaming of a life that could have been and Jay begins to weave a web of magic around Daisy, hoping to win her back and force her to declare her love for him and divorce Tom.

Tom, however, isn't all that he seems and keeps the company of a married woman in his spare time, the wife of a poor mechanic who lives in the slums of the city. Tom takes Nick with him on one of his weekend sojourns and Nick discovers for himself the person his cousin has married, but swears to never tell Daisy of her husbands affairs.

Before long, we also discover that Mr Gatsby is also, not as he seems and the story of his wealth is told.

This film  has Bazs' signature all over it. The costumes are to die for, and the soundtrack is a twist of modern music set against a jazzy back track. Many scenes reminded me of Moulin Rouge, especially with the subtle green fog light that blinks on and off at the end of the Buchanan wharf every night, conjuring up images of Kylie Minogues green fairy flitting about.

What I loved is that the streets of Sydney, where this was filmed, are unrecognisable and easily pass for 1920's New York once the CGI team have waved their wands.

I don't understand why the critics hated this movie, I found it entertaining and the performances of the main cast were engaging.

If you don't like Baz Luhrmann movies, then don't watch them. I think most critics went in thinking they were going to hate it and came out loathing it because it was pure Baz.

See it for yourself, don't let critics ruin it for you.