The Great Gatsby Directed by: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: December 25, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 9/10
Thoughts by TSR: As a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” I think I’m supposed to be up in arms about this. While I was worried that would be the case, I’m thrilled to say I love this trailer. As with most Luhrmann films it’s an excess of style, but what style that is! And really, it fits well with the excess that is Gatsby’s sham of a life. It remains to be seen if there will be any substance, but with seven months until release these gorgeous images are more than enough to win me over.
I generally hate live action 3D, but this looks like it might be a perfect match for the format. That’s especially true for Gatsby’s extravagant Moulin Rouge-esque parties. If nothing else, the brilliant production design, visual style, and fantastic cast makes it clear from the first frame that The Great Gatsby is a Baz Luhrmann production.
Speaking of the cast, it’s stellar top to bottom. Despite liking their Romeo + Juliet, I always forget DiCaprio has already worked with Luhrmann. I’m not sure if anyone is totally right for the role of Jay Gatsby, but I’m very interested to see what DiCaprio does with it. Tobey Maguire looks good as Nick Carraway and Carey Mulligan is stunning as Daisy Buchanan. We only get fleeting glances at the supporting cast, but Joel Edgerton manages to make an impression (and he looks great in that shot of him smoking a cigar).
Even the questionable use of the Kanye West/Jay-Z song is overshadowed by the fantastic “Love Is Blindness” cover by Jack White. Between this and Django Unchained – both featuring DiCaprio – Christmas 2012 really might be the most wonderful time of the year.