DVD Review - The Great Gatsby

Baz Lurhmann has done it again! The director and genius behind Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge has yet again created a masterpiece. This time in the form of a remake of The Great Gatsby, the famous novel by F.Scott Fitzgerald.

The Great Gatsby follows Yale graduate and World War 1 veteran, Nick Carraway who moves to New York from the Midwest. There he rents a small house on Long Island next door to the millionaire who is Jay Gatsby. Before long, Nick gets caught up in world of lavish parties but the more time he spends with him, the more he finds out the truth of who Gatsby is.

Featuring an all star cast including Tobey McGuire(Spiderman) as Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan(An Education) and Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty) as Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Elizabeth Debicki (A Few Best Men) stars as Jordan Baker, whilst Isla Fisher (Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Jason Clarke (Lawless) star as Myrtle and George B Wilson.

The main star of the film is ofcourse Leonardo Dicaprio (Titanic) who stars as the title role of Jay Gatsby. If this film doesn’t give him that well deserved Oscar I don’t know what will.

When directors decide to make a remake of a film that’s already been done or decide to turn a book into a film, there’s always that worry of competition and how true they will stay to the book.

Never fear, Baz still manages to stay as true to the book as possible, putting Fitzgerald’s famous text in a way only Lurhmann can, by putting it in a new and modern time with the use of an upbeat and modern soundtrack, featuring the likes of Jay Z and Lana Del Ray, yet still managing to focus on the story.

The Great Gatsby may be set in a different era but still manages to have the same effect as Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet.

With an all star casting, beautiful costumes, colourful set and scenery and upbeat music Baz certainly doesn’t disappoint in his adaption of one of the most famous books of all time.

One to add to the Christmas list for those who love the films of Baz Lurhmann, the music of Lana Del Ray or indeed the 1920s in general.

[rating=5]

Emily Pontin

Rating:
12A

DVD/BD Release Date:
11th November 2013 (UK)
Directed by:
Baz Lurhmann
Cast:
Leonardo Dicaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey McGuire, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Debicki, Joel Edgerton ,Jason Clarke.