On May 10 Baz Luhrmann released his film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of America’s greatest romantic dramas. Luhrmann’s interpretation was projected to be a work of art. However, this particular rendition of the story turned out to be a complete atrocity. From the acting to the scenery this film was a disappointment to the story’s magnificence.
Starting from the beginning of the movie right to the very end it was as though Luhrmann had planned for this movie to be like a cheap Comedy Central special. In all honesty he could have just as easily hired Daniel Tosh or Jeff Dunham, instead of Leonardo DiCaprio to play Jay Gatsby and invoked a better reaction from the audience.
The actors did not seem to be even remotely interested in playing their particular roles – except for the antagonists Mr. and Mrs. Tom Buchanan played by Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan. Luhrmann seemed to care more for unneeded flashy iconic imagery rather than actual plot and character development.
Never once did the movie actually seem to be a romantic drama. Instead it seemed as though Luhrmann was attempting to pay homage to Pixar and other notable major motion animation studios. Luhrmann’s direction for the movie seemed to discredit all the flair of the 1920s.
When you are introduced to Gatsby in the movie he is supposed to be shown as a superfluous man of substance who threw these amazing parties to which everyone in New York would be present. Instead, Gatsby and his estate were portrayed as though it was an outdoor strip club and he was just another pimp dressed to the nines.
Streamers, glitter, scantily clad women, twerking, alcohol and drugs where scattered about. The movie did not show the Roaring '20s instead it showed me the culture that the '90s bore fruit to: illegal narcotics and alcohol.
All in all the film lacked substance. Over-hyped and hyper-sexualized caused for this particular version of "The Great Gatsby" to fail. Clearly there will not be any Oscar awards given to this film.
