The Great Gatsby

Jean, This is a big time, big screen motion picture experience. I saw it with three other people. I know some of the critics are saying it is excessive in it's presentation of such scenes as the 1920's parties, and the homes and cars and car chases even the initial appearances of some of the main characters. The big visual effects scenes are almost all gone by one third into the film and they are something to see. Then the film morphs into a quite dramatic one which leads to a big dramatic payoff. And the cast members are all easily up to their rolls and especially Leonardo De Caprio. He is surprising in his taking over of the role of Jay Gatsby. He not only delivers the goods but you can not help but compare his performance to previous Gatsbys and he takes no safe route but really puts himself out there. You are believing in him even before the big dramatic scenes towards the finish. (Joel Edgerton also comes through being much more than a boorish oaf or a rich spoiled bully in Tom Buchanan.) This is also a great looking film and it must have cost a lot of money. But leaving the theater you are thinking that all that money is on view, up there on the screen. (The hip-hop music controversy is a non-event. There is more George Gershwin than anything and the hip-hop where it is used is strictly scene-specific.) This is a big film to see on the big scene. (We saw it in 2D for various reasons and felt we did not miss anything,) Dad

 

P.S. The previews were:

 

August:Osage County

Before Midnight

Gravity

The Kings of Summer

Much Ado About Nothing

The Hangover III