The Great Gatsby (2013)

2013 • 142 minutes

About this movie

The uniquely imaginative Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!, Australia) tackles F. Scott Fitzgerald'’s landmark novel, The Great Gatsby, with blockbuster star Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. Spider-Man'’s Tobey Maguire stars as the Fitzgerald-like would-be writer Nick Carraway who arrives in New York in 1922, an era of loose morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick encounters the mysterious millionaire Gatsby and his bewitching cousin Daisy. Soon, Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. Bearing witness to this new world, Nick pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and unforgettable tragedy -- mirroring our own times and struggles.

Ratings and reviews

We recently had a "Great Gatsby Night" and rented and watched both versions back to back. I was sure that Robert Redford and Mia Farrow would have better chemistry together and act circles around DiCaprio and Mulligan. Boy was I wrong. While both movies are enjoyable and follow a very similar script, scene after scene DiCaprio made Redford look like an amateur. Tobey Maguire and Sam Waterston both do an excellent job of playing Nick Carraway. However Joel Edgerton completely shames Bruce Dern in playing Tom Buchanan. Even Carey Mulligan bested Mia Farrow in Daisy. While there were a number of things to enjoy in the 1974 version, the 2013 take is outstanding in every way and much more fun to watch. For the soundtrack Jay-Z is timeless, his music defines New York just as well in the 1920’s as it does today; it was a perfect fit.

Terrible piece. Its needlessly over the top, they go through all the trouble to re-create the period and then overlay modern music /sound effects (car horns). The story is bland and I feel it's one of dicaprio's worst performances. If I hear "old sport" one more time, I might see red.

Baz Luhrman gets IT all right in t his 4th version of Gatsby. The cast, costumes, designs, including period jewels made by Tiffany, worn by Daisy, evoking an era of opulence and "judgement" made by respectable type who made money, the old fashioned way of inheritance. Women and cars and money was king. Just more opulent than today. That's why I love this treatment, Kuhlman makes it relevant. Read "HOUSE OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE" about 15 CPW. Times have changed but the money makers are very new owners like Gatsby . Superb. See 1974 version, with Redford and script by Francis Coppolla, to see what an epic fail that was, and why this film succeeds in its plush treatment. *save your $$$ it's on HBO. Record it.*