Flash Review: The Great Gatsby [1974]
I’m not the biggest fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, but even I can admit it deserved a better adaptation than this soporific, melodramatic and drawn-out Jazz Age telenovela. In terms of acting, there’s nothing remarkable about this one, except for a miscast Mia Farrow’s insane emoting. A scene where she has an emotional breakdown over the beauty of a pink shirt is especially ridiculous. Great clothes, though.
Yep, Mia Farrow was not the reason to see this one.
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Right? She was terrible!
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She’s always terrible. Well ,maybe except in Rosemary’s Baby.
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Aw, come on! I like her, Just not in this one.
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Hey I just saw this not too long ago and I’m sooo with you Fernando. It’s so boring and I don’t really care for Mia nor Redford either, I think Sam Waterston was a bit better as Nick but overall, meh.
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Yeah, he looked like he was doing more of an effort but still wasn’t very memorable.
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Totally agree on this one Fernando. It was a complete borefest.
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Right? So dull!
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Yeah this doesn’t look like a movie that’d suit you. I’m reading the book right now, though, and I’m kinda curious. I’ll lower my expectations. Immensely. 🙂
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Please do. It’s just so dull and lifeless. Really looking forward to Baz Luhrmann’s version, which I’ll see on Saturday!
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It’s good. At least I thought so. (Baz Luhrmann’s version.)
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Hi, I’ve nominated you for an award. http://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/sunshine-blogger-award/
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Thanks a lot! I’ll check it out!
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This was pretty lifeless. Baz’s version is more razzle dazzle but it isn’t any more involving. This book hasn’t been adapted properly yet.
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😦
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Hope you liked Baz’s version better, I definitely did. Reading Mark’s comment above, I wonder if it is even possible to adapt this particularly book properly at all. Also, I’ve nominated you for a Super-Sweet Blogger Award: http://wp.me/p1CyEM-E1
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Yeah, I think it’s a very difficult book to adapt. Maybe because the beauty of the novel laid in Fitzgerald’s way with words, more than on his ability to tell a story, since the story is pretty slight. I did like Luhrmann’s version better, but I didn’t love it.
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About to watch this. Wish me luck.
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Good luck!
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Thanks!
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Pingback: The Great Gatsby [2013] | Committed to Celluloid
I read the book a lifetime ago, and I didn’t mind Redford in the 1974 version at all. Perhaps I am out of place here, but I really dislike all Luhrmann’s films, and do not rate DiCaprio as an actor at all, beyond ‘Gilbert Grape’, and ‘This Boy’s Life’. So, your review has confirmed what I had more or less decided. Absolutely no need to bother with this film at all. With that in mind, thanks very much for your insightful and amusing appraisal. Best wishes from England, Pete.
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Thanks for stopping by, Pete!
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