Wednesday, April 24, 2013

5 REASONS TO SEE THE GREAT GATSBY



Get out your calendar and mark this date: May 10, 2013. Just write 3 words: The Great Gatsby. Yes, one of America's  favorite novels has been made into a movie, for the 5th time (have you seen the 1974 Coppola version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow?). Why would this justify me doing some advance planning, booking a babysitter, and actually going to the movie theater? Well, in no particular order.....



5 REASONS TO GO SEE THE GREAT GATSBY

1. Watch the trailer.




2. The Costumes:

I mean seriously, is that the most ridiculous trailer you've ever seen? Okay, moving on to the fantastic fashion throughout the film. Costume designer Catherine Martin collaborated with Italian designer and creative genius Miuccia Prada on the costumes for the movie. These two gals also worked together on Romeo and Juliet (Leo DiCaprio starred in that film as well) and judging from the clips from the film and Prada's sketches, the wardrobe will be awe-inspiring. Did I mention Tiffany & Co. provided the fine jewelry and Brooks Brother's took care of the men's clothes? I'm willing to bet it will be a fashionista's dream come true.

Sketches by Miuccia Prada of The Great Gatsby costumes for Daisy Buchannan (played by Cary Mulligan). 

3. Baz Luhrmann:

Gatsby's famed director Baz Luhrmann also previously directed two of my favorite movies of all-time - Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge. If you've seen either, you know why Luhrmann is known for his mind-blowingly gorgeous films, all of which have vibrant colors, stunning cinematography, large-scale choreographed dance sequences, and perfectly timed music. Visual masterpieces are his speciality.  


4.The Music:

With a soundtrack featuring Florence and the Machine, will.i.am, the XX, Gotye, Kayne West, Jack White, Lana Del Rey, & Jay-Z, how can it be anything but perfection? Interscope just released this 6 minute soundtrack sampler - I need every song on my IPod stat. 



5. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Not only is Fitzgerald one of my favorite authors, but I've read The Great Gatsby at least 5 times since high school. Having always been intrigued by the east-coast society set, with their lavish galas and over-the-top parties, this book gave me a glimpse into what it would be like to party at Jay Gatsby's mansion, mingling with his hundreds of guests in stunning 20's dresses, cigarettes and champagne in hand. If only I had a time machine. 

Convinced that you MUST see this movie? I am. Now all I need to do is figure out what to wear -  I think it calls for something a little more fab than my usual skinny jeans.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to
be really something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I'll try to get the hang of it!


my blog post the tao of badass

Erin said...

I love the Great Gatsby. I have such a soft spot for it and I re-read it ever year or so. I love the Robert Redford screen adaptation, and what worries me about this particular iteration is that there are kids out there that will be going to see this version based on the Leo DiCaprio factor, and with all the Luhrmann heavy-handed-ness, I'm sad that THIS is the version they'll know. If they've never read the book but are going because Beyonce has a cover song and the dude from Spiderman is in it, then I'd rather them not go at all. Maybe I'm being cynical, and I'm still going to go see it, but I'm hesitant because I hate hate hate Baz Luhrmann and almost everything he touches, and this book is too special to become the over the top spectacle I know it's going to be. There are so many subtle nuances in the book that are going to get lost in the glitz and sparkle of this movie. :( So I'm conflicted, to say the least.

California Chic said...

Erin - I'm sure you are right and many of the Fitzgerald nuances that make the book so great will be lost in the movie, but I'm sad to hear you hate Baz Luhrmann. Did you hate Moulin Rouge too? I honestly LOVED that movie. There may be people who go because Beyonce and Jay-Z did some music, but I have a feeling they are people who would never read the book to begin with. Maybe the glitz and glamour of the movie will inspire them to pick it up next time they are at their local library? Xx

Erin said...

I just reread my comment and I have to apologize for being such a downer-brat yesterday!! I'm much happier today, so I'd like to amend my comment to say I don't hate Baz Luhrmann per se, but he's not someone whose movies I'd reach for first, if that makes sense? I'm indifferent to Moulin Rouge, but I don't want to break your heart! :) And you're right, people going to see Gatsby for the music likely wouldn't read the book anyway! Good point. xoxo

Pin It button on image hover