The Great Gatsby is a movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel with the same name. The story is narrated by Nick Carroway, a young man from the Midwest, who in the 1920s spent some time in Long Island where he visited with his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom. He was eventually attracted to the wild parties at Jay Gatsby’s house where hundreds of people met every other weekend. Gatsby and Daisy have met in the past and Nick eventually realizes that the parties were organized in the hopes that Daisy would one day attend. He helps Gatsby in meeting Daisy but that will eventually lead to a tragic turn of events.
Toby Stephens performance stands out immediately. His youth and easy going manner mixed with some hints of self awareness and insecurity look perfect for the part. The hopelessness of his pursuit of Daisy shines through. However, in the end, it’s more boyish charm than the mysterious and lonely self-made man Fitzgerald wrote about, we don’t feel so much that he is selfish and living his own illusion but that he is a deeply sad character. He fought so hard for the dream of Daisy and yet he ended up with nothing and abandoned by all those “friends” who always surrounded him.
As a whole the cast worked very well and besides Toby Stephens we thought Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd were especially good. Mira Sorvino’s Daisy is the charming debutante, the slightly naive and self absorbed character who may have some feelings for someone else but will eventually always choose to protect herself and her way of life. Paul Rudd is perfect as the slightly dreamy young man who ends up being the most sensible and the one who provides us with some reflections on human nature. It’s easy to be drawn to him and also obvious why he connected so well with Gatsby.
The costumes are lovely and they help create the right atmosphere about people who spent their lives idyllically without a care in the world.
Certainly a must see for all Toby Stephens fans and those who liked to watch good literary adaptations.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210719/
I saw the original Great Gatsby with Robert Redford at school. Also had to read the book for my english classes (is somewhere at the house…)
It seems I’ll have to do a review of it just to drool ;o)
Yay! I’m glad you watched it. I love this movie.
LOL Fantasma I also had to read it for school but now I guess you’ll have to go and watch this one!
hey Amanda, I’m glad I watched it too.
Wow, I had no idea this version was available – I missed it at the time on TV, though I don’t remembe why, and have wanted to see it ever since. I see there is only a region 1 release, but I will hope to get hold of it at some stage, anyway. I love the Robert Redford film but would be interested to see another take on this. Enjoyed your review!