So finally I’ve been to see Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby. You might say that it goes against my religion – as I’ve had occasion to point out in previous columns that I’m not too fond of finding my favourite books ruined by a Hollywood translation.
Go prepared to enjoy the ride without questioning it too deeply
In this case, there was no way I was going to miss out, and this despite the fact that the film was getting a royal bollocking by the most respected film critics.
I have to admit that I’m a bit of a sucker for Luhrmann movies – all five of them (the ones that are worthy of note, anyway). Bar the first one, Strictly Ballroom, which I didn’t bother with as it’s not the sort of genre I enjoy.
Then came William Shake-speare’s Romeo + Juliet in 1996. My mind was blown with this anachronistic feast for the senses, a visual and aural experience, the pleasure of which had precious little to do with the Shakespearean connection.
To put it simply, the storyline barely mattered. It was all about the cinematography, the soundtrack, and the way both elements played off each other. I was suddenly a Luhrmann fan.
Then the release of Moulin Rouge in 2001. I suppose you can say that Moulin Rouge converted me to the idea of watching a musical at the cinema. Before that, I was only keen if the musical was a genuine theatrical production.
But his interpretation of Parisian decadence in the Belle Époque, again set against a stellar soundtrack (his version of Roxanne, played as a tango, was mesmerising), had even the biggest sceptics become instant Luhrmann converts.
Sadly, Moulin Rouge was followed by Australia. The only way to describe the sprawling (albeit admittedly lusciously shot) marathon of almost three hours would be as a ‘failed vanity project’.
Next came some shorts that I have not managed to see yet and then... finally... The Great Gatsby – a project incredibly difficult to pull off credibly because, let’s face it, how can you do justice to the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic?
The answer to that, of course, is that you cannot. The best way to go about it is to focus on the cinematography and soundtrack – which Luhrmann excels at.
My advice to anyone watching The Great Gatsby is the following: do not watch it in the spirit of a faithful rendition of the literature classic. You will only get annoyed.
Rather, watch it for the sheer visual extravaganza which, once again, doesn’t necessarily collude with the spirit the book tries to impart, but which nonetheless is simply stunning.
In typical Luhrmann trademark, the soundtrack plays a pivotal role. As he did with William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, he injects a heavy touch of anachronism using heavy R ’n’ B tracks that would have had no place in the roaring 1920s.
Oddly enough, the first element that really made me look forward to The Great Gatsby was a track that is not even officially part of the soundtrack, but which was used for the official trailer.
This was a cover version of The Turtles’ single Happy Together, played by Filter. The track had been used previously to accompany a Criminal Minds promo.
Although Filter are absent from the official soundtrack, I still fell in love with it. Some of the artists, such as Will.I.Am, Fergie and JayZ (who curated the whole original soundtrack) are not genres I typically enjoy. However, they manage to effectively play off the scenes with which they are tied.
The soundtrack contains a couple of gems. Lana del Rey’s sadly poignant Young and Beautiful; The XX’s Together, Florence & The Machine’s Over the Love; GOTYE’s Heart’s a Mess... pieces like these are what make the movie memorable.
Rather than a straightforward plotline, I choose to remember this version of The Great Gatsby as a juxtaposition of over-the-top visuals and lingering tracks. And Fitzgerald’s quotes are artfully scattered across the big screen.
In short, The Great Gatsby is a testament to Luhrmann’s sometimes spectacular, sometimes way too garish, sometimes nothing short of genius, sometimes annoyingly, artsy vision. Go prepared to enjoy the ride without questioning it too deeply. You won’t be able to resist having fun.
rdepares@timesofmalta.com