The Great Gatsby

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Release Date: May 17th 2013

A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.

Director: Baz Luhrmann (Australia, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet)

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan

The story of The Great Gatsby is overshadowed by it's glitz and glamour. Picture Mouline Rouge!, except not as odd as that. This is not the first attempt at bringing the F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel to life. Jack Clayton's The Great Gatsby (1974) starring Robert Redford will be the most familiar. This new outing comes at a time where CGI and colour stand out vibrantly, make it pretty to look at.

We follow Nick Carraway (Maguire), a war veteran who ends up being Jay Gatsby's (DiCaprio) neighbour. As he explains to a shrink and through a series of flashbacks we see his involvement in Gatsby's life; how he gets to know him, his wealth, his friends (or lack of) and lastly his incredible parties. He's making a name for himself without anyone knowing what he looks like.

Gatsby is besotted with his old love, Daisy (Mulligan). All went south with their relationship before the war, and Daisy is now married to philanthropist Tom Buchanan (Edgerton). Things may go his way, as Buchanan is unfaithful with Myrtle (Fisher), but we all know that the outcome is never happy.

The Great Gatsby may work as a book but it struggles to keep interest on screen. At least the story is not out of date. No one has really much to say (that you will care much for) apart from Gatsby. Every word that comes out of his mouth whether true or not, will captivate you, and DiCaprio reprises similar persona's to previous roles that will keep the women interested at least.        

The soundtrack (by rapper Jay-Z) is surprisingly fitting if not strange company. Rap didn't exist post second world war, so it feels a little surreal, as if none of it is real; a lifestyle we think we want but could probably do without.

Overview: No stand out performances bar DiCaprio, but the performance cannot outshine what can be seen.