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Christian Roa
Mrs. Yelton (7th)
English IV H/DC
November 7, 2014
The Great Gatsby, A Hybrid Success
The flashing lights all around. It’s like a winter night with Christmas lights illuminating the sky so bright that one can see it’s faint glow from miles away. The blinding light accompanied by fanfare and the uproaring of jazz­like music cumulating through the wind. A sound so magnificent it could be compared to cinematic orchestras and trumpets almost as if the welcoming of God himself. People’s breathes filling the air as their hearts pound ever so loudly.
Dresses and blazers flapping against the wind as a welcoming to the exhilarating fun. The dancing, dining, and drinking serves as an essential key joining all social classes to the excitement. But the host is nowhere to be found. The people begin to wonder how such a host could steer away from the credibility of throwing such a fantastic party, but this host was known for doing such a thing. A man who was very well known by name but deprived of a personal relationship with anyone. That is except with Nick Carraway, his neighbor.
From the big and intimate parties to the original nickname “old sport”, F. Scott Fitzgerald captures his audience with a classic love story of the roaring 20’s. The Great Gatsby known for its extravagant parties, distinct point of view, and unforsaken love story is an unforgettable story that deeply connects with its readers over love affairs and the like. The trouble occurs when a person tries to recreate the story in a film.

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Although the 1974 film by Jack Clayton was successful in its era, the time difference between the 70’s and now allows for a disconnect with our current society. This explains why some critics deem the film as distasteful and an inaccurate display of the original novel.
However, the 2013 film does an excellent job by accurately depicting the book by Fitzgerald, and holds a higher rating which is presented by imdb. This Great Gatsby was directed and written by Baz Luhrmann an Australian director known for recreating romance movies. It does so by offering a spin that diffuses a modern and classical approach but follows the storyline.
Even though this is an unusual blend it does capture the meaning behind Gatsby while establishing a connection with this present­day society.
Among the many reasons that this film was successful in its likeness to the original storyline, the credit to most of the connection with the audience is presented by Luhrmann and his cast. Luhrmann has recreated triumphant films like “Moulin Rouge!” and “Romeo + Juliet” which also have relatively high ratings awarded by imdb. This is a major factor in portraying just how the traditional­contemporary angle on this movie “just works”. Although Luhrmann has used this tactic before, imdb proves that this version is a prosperous one earning an estimate of
$144,812,796 gross from the US box office.
Many will argue that Luhrmann does a great job in its visuals but lacks the sensuality in the relationship between Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Although this may be true, the book itself does not capture the carnality between the two characters, but endorses the mystery behind love. Many people do not understand how love holds two together or what love is, they can only examine the happiness that covers it. It is due to this ambiguity that the awkward but loveable relationship behind the two characters depicts the book quite well.

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The point is that the couple is in love, but have been separated for far too long and lack the factor of time span that aids in the growth of a relationship. They are running away from the obvious and into a fantasy that DiCaprio and Mulligan display quite well.
Along with the chemistry between the lead actors lies the music. This music was the determining factor in whether this movie would exhibit the social landscape in the setting. The