The countdown to the days before the film I have anticipated forever has begun!!
F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is my favorite novel. It is compact, spare, gorgeous, heartbreaking and haunting. Its theme of America being a place anyone can reinvent themselves is one that makes the classic era of Hollywood so seductive to me. And, as Theda Bara, Joan Crawford, Clara Bow and countless others after them whose stories were created by a Hollywood publicist learned, Jay Gatsby found you cannot run away from your past.
There has been some snarking and trepidation about this latest movie version Gatsby. I have read that there have been 5 previous versions, but I can only find 4 (1926, 1949, 1974 and the 2000 TV version) and all have left fans of the novel wanting more. I am most familiar with the 1974 Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version. While it is visually beautiful, it left me wondering when Gatsby and Daisy were going to show up. From all that I have read and seen, this new 3-D Baz Luhrmann production will not be a reverential from-the-page-to-the-screen recreation. As he did in Moulin Rouge (which I loved), Luhrmann will use contemporary music as a background. I'm a little nervous about this, but I am going to trust the director's vision here.
As if the trailers and delayed opening are not enough of a tease, Vogue gave us these beautiful photos of Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan.
"She blossomed for him like a flower"
Before seeing these photos, I couldn't picture Carey as Daisy. Now, I can't wait to see her. She looks as bewitching as Fitzgerald's creation.
On the other hand, Leonardo DiCaprio seemed to me to be the perfect Gatsby from the moment I heard he was going to play the part. He is one of the main reasons I am so excited and hopeful about this film. This could be the role he was born to play. He has the romantic longing coupled with the danger that is Gatsby.
"The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God - a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that - and he must be about his Father's business, the service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to his conception he was faithful to the end."
Tobey Maguire seems to be a perfect choice for Nick, and the rest of the cast looks mighty good, too.
So cheers to and fingers crossed for this new attempt to tell Jay Gatsby's story. It promises to be big and bold and beautiful. Oh please, please be vulgar, dangerous and romantic!!!!! Please, please be great!!!
Click HERE and take a tour of the incredibly lavish sets of The Great Gatsby.
14 comments:
Gorgeous, well-written Post, FC! The cast is great; the sets and costumes are great. The soundtrack sounds hateful; the acting is to be seen. Let's hope the film truly is great. You continue to inspire us, FC!
OMG!!! Loved your review.. I can not wait to see this film!!
Thank you, Inge. Let's compare notes after the film opens!
Dawn - me either. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to see a new film!
I was also mesmerized by the costumes and colors of the 1974 version. It was probably what Fitzgerald had imagined. I wish the 1926 version was still around, even knowing that Fitz went of in the middle of the screenig, furious.
If you think well, Leo even has a resemblance with Robert Redford!
Kisses!
I am very anxious about this movie, although I'm uncomfortable about the music idea. . .the 20's produced some wonderful music/musicians, it WAS "The Jazz Age", and Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, The Gershwins, etc., etc. all produced music that could be and should be used for this. Just my opinion of course. The 1974 version was perfectly timed, as I was a junior in H.S., and our English teacher was a fanatic about Fitzgerald, so of course. . .field trip to see the movie. It has remained one of my very favorites, and sparked an interest in me for reading Fitzgerald that has never left. Thanks for the review. Can't wait to read what your thoughts are after it's opening.
Oh the clothes!
Le - I hope Fitzgerald will approve. He worked in Hollywood, so he knows that the translation from book to film requires some liberties.
Cynthia - yes - this was part 1. Part 2 will be the review. I hope I can concentrate on other things besides the gorgeous costumes!
Sam - don't you know it!!
Oh yes - please let this be good. I hope Hollywood doesn't fumble the ball here. Although I must confess I do like the 1974 version.
The Vogue photos are STUNNING!
Fingers crossed...
Silverscreenings - aren't those photos yummy? I'm not a huge fan of the 1974 version. It was very dreamy & romantic, but the story is darker and I think Leo will be just great.
Chick, it's been many years since I read THE GREAT GATSBY, and I've actually seen a version from the 1940s with Alan Ladd in the title role, but Baz Luhrman is The Man! If he can't make ...GATSBY great, nobody can - but after reading your sumptuous pictorial, I'm really looking forward to it! I love this post; great job!
Hi Dorian. I agree - Baz is the man. I am literally counting the days. If this is a bomb I will be so disappointed!
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