Was The Great Gatsby so Great?

I’ve just got in from watching the latest Baz Luhrmann “The Great Gatsby” and I’m really stumped at what to think. Having studied the film as my matric setwork more than 10 years ago, even though I drew the short straw by having the worst English teacher on the planet, whose teaching methods were nothing more than reams of photocopied notes and letting us watch the movie version of the novel – much to The Wam’s horror. But that is a very different story for a very different time.

I’d so been looking forward to watching the film and had read up more about the soundtrack than the movie itself. I was nonetheless looking forward to it. After watching it I find that I’m stumped on my opinion. Did it live up to the hype, mmm I am not convinced. As a movie I enjoyed it – but as “The Great Gatsby” was it all that great?

For me there was so much more angst and urgency from reading the novel that I felt wasn’t portrayed as it could have been. I feel like there was something missing and this movie was made for the 3-D audience (even though we didn’t watch the 3-D version). I felt I couldn’t identify with Nick’s character and voice in the film even though he was with us every step of the way.

DiCaprio as Gatsby was a fine choice – that guy really can act. What I am taking from the film is that we’re still a throw away society, in the sense that we don’t take enough time to care about those around us and are quick to use and throw away people as and when it suits us. Have we learnt nothing? Are we all such weak characters like Daisy? Who when the going gets tough runs away? I certainly hope that isn’t me … And what about a man like Gatsby who’s love for a woman is so intimate yet paraded for everyone under a cloak of popularity and abuse of power?

The frivolity and fragility of the human spirit is so clear in a character like Gatsby. Are we too afraid to show our true colours? Afraid of what society will brand us? But then where does that lead? To a life of “what if”?

What would happen if we did.

Perhaps Gatsby was great … because it asks the questions I think we’re to afraid to answer.

Crumbs that was all a bit deep – happens! But I had a whole lot buzzing in my brain after that film and needed a bit of a word vom. If you haven’t been to the Labia in town, do yourself a favour and go. They have ridiculously great dinner and movie combo’s – we went to the Soceti Bistro, R45 for a movie ticket and pasta. Cheaper than just a movie ticket at the big movie houses (parking and dinner excluded). The labia also screens some of those artsy movies some of you are probably breaking out in hives at just the thought of it. But do yourself a favour and go check it out – who knows you might find some things to think about too!

Ps the pics is from dinner before the show!

♥ Tans

Photographs Eat Play Luv © (please request permission before using)