I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would. Mostly because I couldn't really remember the book very well, which I assumed to mean that it was a boring read. However, after seeing the movie and not recognizing the story-line, I think the more likely scenario was this was one of the books my high-school self skimmed on sparknotes and didn't actually read. Not cool teenage me.
The cinematography, costume, and actors/actresses are beautiful, but what I found really engaging was the philosophical questions raised through character development and symbolism. Gatsby, the imperfect protagonist of the story, is the only person guided by some semblance of principles. The unfortunate part is that he is a man of misplaced faith, that is faith that money and social class can make people truly noble. Across the bay of his nouveau-riche castle is the green lighted dock of Daisy Buchanan's husband's old money estate. The green light beckons Gatsby to seek Daisy - his long lost love-which he attempts to achieve by throwing extravagant, excessive parties hoping that one day she might wander upon his confetti-littered doorstep. Gatsby's efforts pay off and after many years he has Daisy back in his arms again. However, in Gatsby's naive idealism and blind ambition he fails to recognize the imperfection/amorality of the high society he wishes to join. Until the very end he believes in green light's false promise of love, nobility, and acceptance.
This is the peril in putting absolute faith in other humans and their human constructs such as society, money, and power. As humans we cannot help but be fallible and disappoint. Gatsby refused to recognize this possibility and met his end pursuing a mirage of greatness that was beautiful but empty. The irony is that though Gatsby makes his money through moonlighting and scams, but ultimately succumbs as the biggest sucker in the story to the fantasy of the American dream. Nobody can have it all. Nobody can change their past.
This movie makes me think about my own ambitions/ideas of greatness and how maybe we are all a bit guilty of Gatsby's naive idealism.
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2 comments:
Nice review. The cast does what they can, but the direction isn’t too concerned with them. It’s all style, all the time.
I agree with your point; there was a lot of emphasis on the look of the movie, which might have taken away from character development somewhat. Thanks for the comment!
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