The Great Gatsby- Ain't No Party Like A Gatsby Party.

Oh Baz, old sport. What have you done.

Expect drop waist dresses to come into fashion again, Baz Lurhmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby features beautiful costumes and visual delights is finally out after it's delayed December release. 

I must say, no matter how wonderful the visuals were, it also made me feel as if I've been drunk or on an acid trip. Funnily enough Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) had that same wide-eyed and drunken with glee expression throughout the film, even though he didn't drink as much as everyone in Jay Gatsby's (Leonardo Di Caprio) parties. Much of it was done on the green screen and it all just seems surreal and dream like. Then again the movie is narrated in retrospect as we open with Maguire in a madhouse as he is now a recovering alcoholic...according to Luhrmann. Whilst it may not be accurate to the novel, well since when were film adaptations ever were, I feel that Lurhmann made this film lacking in something.

 Luhrmann's adaptation is superfluous with over the top parties and pageantry (which is an understatement, I wish I was rich enough to have parties like that) the amount of emotion in the story is weak against the frenzy of the surrounding environment. This lack of emotion makes the film feel like an empty dream that lasted a very very long 143 minutes. 

Like I said, the costumes were fantastic, the cast was wonderful, however I felt that the way in which they were directed didn't allow for their talents to be used, especially Di Caprio, but come on, its Leonardo Di Caprio. 

I MEAN LOOK AT THE OLD SPORT.

Now let's talk about the soundtrack. Oh Jay Z, why did you allow Mrs Carter to cover Amy Winehouse's Back to Black?! WHY?!

Whilst I appreciated the effort of adding a modern touch to a classic, I felt that the soundtrack was cringe worthy, you can't Charleston to dubstep, it just doesn't work. I think the only contributions to the soundtrack that I appreciated were from Lana Del Rey and Florence and the Machine. The soundtrack by itself is nice to listen to (except that cover of Back to Black which should never exist) but when you hear it with all the commotion on the screen, again it feels like an acid trip.

After watching it, a woman asked me how I felt after that screening and we both agreed that Gatsby, whilst being a headache inducing treat for the eyes, was not great. 

Sorry, old sport.