The Great Gatsby

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

New York in the glitzy 1920s is intoxicated by decadence and glamour.  The mysterious and allusive Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) throws the most amazing parties, but his heart is desperately ensured by the beautiful woman across the water whom he once lost.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel of desire and deception is bought to life in a cascade of pearls and sequins.  The production design and costumes are absolutely gorgeous, as the filmmakers draw upon the exquisitely fine details of the novel.  Leonardo DiCaprio steals the film in a flawless performance as Jay Gatsby, perfectly capturing the depths underlying his character.  He presents an intriguing and engaging character who is driven by hope and absolute idealisation.

The artistic direction and editing of the film though felt at times somewhat flawed.  Sequences felt hasty as Baz Luhrmann's shots cavort.  However, while this worked to a stylish effect in Moulin Rouge, it felt slightly ill-suited to a story as classic and sophisticated as The Great Gatsby.  The deliberate use of 3D, particularly during the title sequence, felt unnecessary and at times undesirable; tarnishing the otherwise divine aesthetic film.

An iconic story, intoxicating setting and enticing characters come together to create a gorgeous film, albeit under slightly flawed direction.