This is just my opinion though I don't expect anyone to agree.Let me begin by saying I don't believe in critics tearing apart movies that so much money and effort has gone into. And kudos to Leonardo DiCaprio who I think is a great actor and who can portray a wide range of human pathos, qualities and characters. I love his movies. Having said that, as a classicist, something in me dies at the reality of this great book being re-done again. It shouldn't have been done. I see hugely different opinions and perceptions here and I accept all of them, but I would be re-miss and disloyal to not state here that Robert Redford and Mia Farrow just ARE Gatsby and Daisy, to my mind, and there could be no other. They should have been left to stand forever in our memories, like Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.You may want to see this Baz Luhrmann rendition just to see it, but seriously,then go back and look at the exquisite beauty and subtly of Redford/Farrow and Sam Waterston; these beautiful and subtle actors of such brilliance and depth! It's beside the point which movie was truest to the novel. Rather, which was more subtly beautiful in rendering that aching, longing feeling of Gatsby and Daisy, and the similarly aching, longing dreaming quality of all the music and sounds and feeling of the 20's? Do you need hundreds of dancers for that? Go back and look at it:the brilliance of every moment and every drunken actor in the great party;Gatsby(Redford)in his uniform dancing with Daisy to the scratchy music; the long, sweaty aching moments of togetherness and longing looks; the utter shallowness and confusion of Daisy(Mia Farrow); the intrigue and beauty of Jordan Baker ; the manic despair of George Wilson;the sweaty slimeyness of his wife (Isla Fisher was too sweet!) and the goodness and utter disbelief and helplessness of Carraway (Waterston).These were great actors and every one of them, especially Redford, deserved an Oscar for their performance. Luhrmann's film is entertaining, but all the beauty and subtly is gone and ruined the memory of what to me is a classic. Will we ever forget Clark Gable's stunning slicked-back hair, necktie and suit and "Frankly, I don't give a damn?" Well the memory of the sheer beauty and ethereal quality of Redford in his white suit, appearing amongst all those roses in the cottage, should have been left untainted ,for all time, longing,longing.Finally, if Carey Mulligan is ever asked to play Scarlett O'Hara, please, think twice: Don't.
Review of The Great Gatsby
