Review: The Great Gatsby

The secret to watching, “The Great Gatsby’, is to detach your expectations, created by the genius of Fitzgerald & to view it as an isolated, inspired movie experience.

A visual treat, ‘The Great Gatsby’ undoubtedly is a celebration of the decadent 1920’s, of opulence, vulgar displays of wealth, showgirls, flowing wine, loud music ... as reflected in the parties, at the mansion of the mysterious Jay Gatsby, which are attended by the rich ‘n famous, though strangely, most of the guests at the Gatsby parties, have never met their host!
Tobey Maguire is the narrator of the story, a first time writer, who takes us through this bitter sweet story of greed, love and betrayal – our friendly neighbourhood Spiderman is back as Nick, the friendly neighbour of Jay Gatsby! Maguire has this extraordinary ability to connect with your emotions & makes you sense his innocence & towards the end, his disillusionment, at the shallow society around him!
But the movie rests squarely on the shoulders, of the time and trusted Leonardo Di Caprio , who from his first mega block buster, where the ship sank, but his career rose & soared, has rarely disappointed – is he the perfect Jay Gatsby – maybe not, but he comes close, with his piercing eyes, in contrast to his vulnerable persona, as the obsessive lover, who with twisted logic, moves opposite Daisy’s house, throws parties full of glitz & glamour to attract her & befriends Nick, who he hopes will help him, in getting close to Daisy. There are times when you want to shake him hard and ask him to get real, but not sure whether Fitzgerald, or the movie, inspires that feeling.
Carey Mulligan makes a pretty Daisy – but scratch the surface & look under the perfect hair, make-up & clothes & you miss the depth that reveals her ruthless selfishness.
The feminist in me has always been outraged about how it is ok for Daisy’s husband to very openly have an extra marital affair, with Isla Fisher, as his hard as nails mistress, but the same husband, is intolerant, at the thought of his wife taking the same liberties, with Jay Gatsby!
Call me old fashioned, because I know the new age music has created quite a buzz, but for me, personally, it didn’t work & discredited the sets and the ambience created.
So against the book, this film may come across as a pale imitation, but still, worth a dekho!
For the poignancy of the moment when Leonardo, who is willing to take the blame, for an accident caused by his lover, Daisy & the manner in which he waits, in the stillness of the night, for the phone to ring, while Daisy, played by Cary Mulligan, has moved on & is, without a backward glance, leaving town with her husband and daughter.
The loneliness of Gatsby’s body, in the large mansion, with no visitors, is a telling testament, to the opportunistic society around him, which thronged to his parties, took advantage of his generosity, but has no use for him now & is disinclined to pay their respects!
But then, as a wise man said, without greed, betrayal, passion & heartbreak, there would be no great works of art, or literature!