The Great Gatsby (2013)

A writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby.

Director:

Baz Luhrmann

Writers:

Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce (screenplay)

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton

Won 2 Oscars. Another 48 wins & 85 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lisa Adam	...	Weeping / Singing Woman
Frank Aldridge	...	Well Dressed Male Witness - Wilson's Garage
Amitabh Bachchan	...	Meyer Wolfsheim
Steve Bisley	...	Dan Cody
Richard Carter	...	Herzog
Jason Clarke	...	George Wilson
Adelaide Clemens	...	Catherine
Vince Colosimo	...	Michaelis
Max Cullen	...	Owl Eyes
Mal Day	...	The Boss-Probity Trust
Elizabeth Debicki	...	Jordan Baker
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Jay Gatsby
Joel Edgerton	...	Tom Buchanan
Emmanuel Ekwenski	...	Jazz Player
Eden Falk	...	Mr. McKee

Storyline

An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.

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Plot Keywords:

extramarital affair | obsessive love | party | dead body in swimming pool | fatal accident | 

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Taglines:

...there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

A photograph of Zelda Fitzgerald, the flamboyant wife and muse of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, can be seen hanging on the wall in the background of the apartment Tom shares with Myrtle.

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Goofs

During one of the parties at Gatsby's, guests sing "Let's Misbehave," written by Cole Porter in 1927.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nick Carraway: In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice. "Always try to see the best in people," he would say. As a consequence, I'm inclined to reserve all judgements. But even I have a limit.

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Crazy Credits

Jay Gatsby's flower symbol is shown throughout the credits with different letters in place of the 'JG'. The 3rd to last flower, preceding the music section, has 'JZ' in it (an homage to the film's soundtrack producer Jay-Z. The last flower has the movie's traditional 'JG' in it.

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Connections

References Blood and Sand (1922)

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Soundtracks

Love Is The Drug
Written by Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay (as Andrew Mackay)
Published by BMG Chrysalis/Mushroom Music and Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia
Produced by Bryan Ferry, Rhett Davies, Colin Good and Simon Willey
Performed by Bryan Ferry with The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
Bryan Ferry and The Bryan Ferry Orchestra appear courtesy of BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited

User Reviews

"The Great Gatsby" Review

Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby," is fairly accurate to the classic novel and keeps most of its themes intact. However, Luhrmann's own flair adds a new dimension to the story. Visually this film is incredibly stunning. From grand sets to the detailed period dresses, this film is a treat for the eyes. Never once does it not take your breath away from its impressive scenery. Many people might be worried about the updated music, but there is nothing to fear. Jay-Z's track works incredible well with the film and complements the era in which it is set.

The direction in this film is impeccable. The cinematography is marvelous and really lets the viewer absorb the sheer artistry that has gone into making this film. Luhrmann keeps a high level of energy throughout the film and the party sequences are choreographed and edited in a way that it makes you feel envious of not being apart of it. Editing in the film is seamless and really keeps the viewer engaged. A common criticism the film receives is that it is more style than substance, however, I must disagree. This modern interpretation doesn't forget its themes and morals from the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald tale.

Performances are phenomenal by the entire cast. Carey Mulligan's Daisy is every bit as careless as one would expect, but she also manages to show some complexity in her role. Tobey Maguire is a great avatar for us to take on as we enter this film. He is very much the viewer as he sees everything happening, but is ultimately helpless to change anything. The true standouts in the film are Joel Edgerton and Leonardo DiCaprio. Edgerton as Tom Buchanan brings a lot of personality to his character that I thought was absent in the book. He's a bit more tender and more vulnerable, especially when he finds out his wife's secret. The true award recognition worthy performance comes from DiCaprio's Gatsby. He hones on being a respectable, but idealistically insane man. His performance is not only compelling, but also charming and quit hopeful. He truly deserves some recognition come Oscar season.

Overall, "The Great Gatsby" is a fantastically entertaining and enthralling film. It is horribly underrated as it is filled with awards worthy visuals, sets, costumes, direction, and performances. It is a great time at the movies for anyone that enjoys the classic novel or who haven't even heard of it. Not only is this film dramatically satisfying, but also quite humorous and a spectacle like no other. I give it 4.5/5, a great adaptation of one of the greatest novels ever written.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Great Gatsby

Filming Locations:

Sydney Polo Club, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$105,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$50,085,185, 12 May 2013

Gross USA:

$144,840,419

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$353,641,895

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, A+E Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1