GATSBY - archive from 15th June 2013

Saw 'GATSBY' this week and enjoyed this latest Baz Luhrman offering . . . for the most part! 

This film has divided critics and I can see why. It is lavish on every level, it has a strong cast, Leo DiCaprio gives a great performance ably supported by Joel Edgerton especially, and associates Mulligan & Maguire, the film has spectacle, colour and pace, but, this is all style over substances for me. The usual Luhrmann touchstones are there (lavish sets, big musical numbers, great period costume and fine acting talent) and Leo further cements his position as one of the best actors of our time, and yet something is missing. It's like Luhrmann is trying too hard to cram everything in to 120 minutes or so and he pulls out every trick in the book in an attempt to impress. And for the most part he succeeded but I left the theatre feeling a little shortchanged and making comparisons to Redford's former 'THE GREAT GATSBY' which stands up very well still to this 2013 rendition. 
Watch it on your big screen at home when the BluRay arrives and you won't have missed anything.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-