Soundtrack feels goofy in the beginning, but it’s a very cool stylistic choice
Feels like the camera is constantly moving. Very quick cuts and snappy dialogue. Everything feels like it’s moving so fast. There’s a sense of urgency to it. You kinda just get swept up with it all.
Not a huge fan of the special effects. The green screen is really obvious and dates the film a bit.
Toby Maguire does a great job of presenting the vaguely off-putting vibe Nick has.
Perfect character design for Mr. McKee.
The set of Gatsby’s mansion is absolutely insane and exactly what I imagined. His introduction is comically over the top. Totally captures the message Nick sends in the monologue of how unbelievable he is while also showing the absurdity in it.
What in the world is the accent DiCaprio is doing? Would love to know his logic behind it. Also EYES ON THE ROAD PLEASE. No wonder people believed Gatsby killed someone in a hit and run so easily.
I love the scenes where they show how awful they treat service workers. Probably the most subtle part of the film.
Why is there a tooth on Wolfsheim’s tie???? Sibling says it’s because he’s a gangster but I feel like there’s better ways to go about that. Maybe I’m just averse to teeth as accessories.
Arrow collar man spotted. All those light advertisements are so cool. Not sure if Times Square actually looked like that. Probably not. If not, such a creative way to represent it.
Flowers in Nick’s house are such a good image. Nick is being swallowed by the excess while it seems like the flowers are parting in Gatsby’s presence. His suit and Daisy’s dress compliment the colors of the flowers so much it looks like they’re a part of the arrangement. Nick’s green sweater stands in contrast while also blending into the green walls.
Gatsby’s choice to wear a blue button up, bright orange tie, and brown vest is certainly an interesting choice. Not beating the allegations of having bad taste. I bet the costume designers had a field day with this movie.
Just dawned on me that Gatsby is so infatuated with Daisy because she represents his life and the innocence he had before the war.
Dramatic change in pace after Daisy goes to Gatsby’s party, maybe earlier. Everything is much slower moving, including the cuts and dialogue.
Daisy is so much more of a human in this. Her reactions are so reasonable compared to when Nick describes her.
I feel so bad for Daisy. This movie makes it so much clearer that she was in an abusive relationship with no real power. It makes it more ambiguous as to whether she actually still loves Gatsby or not.
Bibliography
Lurhmann, Baz, director. The Great Gatsby (2013). Performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tobey Maguire, Warner Home Video, 2013, https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-Leonardo-DiCaprio/dp/B00ESY6TKY.
