The Great Gatsby - Movie Review

The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Isla Fisher is reviewed by Ben Mankiewicz (host of Turner Classic Movies), Alonso Duralde (TheWrap.com and Linoleum Knife podcast) and Christy Lemire (AP critic).
See what other critics are saying: www.rottentomat...
"The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. -- (C) WB
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[@ChrisRayGun]

The movie is bland as all hell. It was meant to stay a book. The whole movie is just exposition.

[@daxwhitston5656]

Never thought I'd see you here, love your channel

[@bbbblazin2802]

Wow! Glad I am not a critic, it's like you're not allowed to like movies. I thought this was super well done. Cartoony? I think it was stunning. Sure, didn't look raw and real but it was just beautiful!

[@felixthecat2786]

bbbblazin2802 What was well done about it? I can't think of a single thing.

[@faithsmoviereviews7946]

Leonardo DiCaprio was great as Gatsby. This is movie like a 7/10. It's not terrible.

[@VladiArdd]

What people have a problem with is not just how flash and mundane the parties are. The problem is that they take too much of the screen time, while a lot of moments which put the spotlight on the failure of the american dream, get excluded, or aren't given more than 5 seconds for the crowd to soak it up. Daisy is made more of a tragic hero in the movie, as opposed to another rotten character in the book. Just all over, Lurhman tried to make it more of love story than a social commentary.

[@HKISfreak1]

I just can't ever take the criticism of the characters seriously...they are SUPPOSED to be superficial.

[@PhantasmagoricSplend]

I understand why they put the rap in it, but I wish they didn't. Just my personal opinion. Anyways it was good. Better than the Redford version by far. The book is of course the best. I actually liked Carey mulligan in this.

[@TheMajorLeagueGinger]

It was a nice movie but some the stuff took me out of it, being someone who read the novel from start to finish. I think this random out of place music was just a lil weird since it kinda takes you out of the era, and with movies you just get so into it that you feel you are there with them, that you live like they do. And the increased sexual content was also unneccessary like hearing tom and myrtle have sex, all the half nudity, it was all just a lil overboard and unclassy. I feel the 2nd half was way more focused as the 1st part was all jayz and parties and sex.

[@jannsse]

That's a way too low score for this movie. It may not be perfect, but it's much higher than a 3.5 for me!

[@widM_]

Don't u have your own opinion? Do other people must tell you what to think? If i loved the movie and I know why, who are they to change my mind. Do you think these critics are gods who only ones knows the score. You can go read some positive reviews from other critics if that makes your opinion good again.

[@slmjz]

I was about the gain respect for this channel then I heard their convict about Gatsby. Ridiculous, that movie is great whatever anyone says.

[@felixthecat2786]

slamjeez In what way was it great? It wasn't even good, it was awful....The screenplay and dialogue were wooden and shallow. The actors were over the top in parts and one dimensional in others. The narrative has no structure whatsoever. Did we even watch the same film?? Tell me, what exactly was "great" about this film? I'm just curious...

[@slmjz]

***** it wasn't great because a phenomenal script, it wasn't great because of perfect acting, it was great because it conveyed the vibe the 20s probably had to our generation now. The scenes looked fabulous, the music was awesome. Not all great films come with great acting I believe. There are different aspects you can love a film for. That's just my 2cents.

[@felixthecat2786]

The scenes looked like cartoonish amateurish CGI, actually Moulin Rouge had better looking effects and that was 14 years ago! I also don't understand your point about it portraying the 20s as it would have looked to us. Do you have a constant dubstep soundtrack playing in your head? Do you constantly get shitfaced in the city with your millionaire friends and fuck bitches all day? I don't think so....

[@felixthecat2786]

It was like watching a bad reality show, nothing at all like the 20s would have looked to us. Realistically the 20s would have been you slaving away in a factory all day long.

[@slmjz]

***** I see that you don't appreciate this movie much but arguing about other's opinion and perception like a mad dog is really not necessary. Take a few chill pills and hit the bed.

[@justingregory8047]

Christy. Stop reviewing movies because all you comment on is the clothes

[@GillDawe]

I loved the book, and I love the movie. I have to disagree with just about everything these people have said about it. Granted, if you don't like Baz Luhrmann you will probably not like this movie, its extremely bright, bold and over-the-top, but that its also mostly what I pictured reading the book. I read it right before watching the film and a lot of the dialogue is actually word-for-word from the book. I thought it captured its essence and its beauty. Definitely give the film a shot.

[@hollyroxy25]

i thought this movie was painfully boring & i'm surprised because i usually love pretty much everything that leo is in.

[@hollyroxy25]

***** nope & after seeing this i'm glad i didn't

[@hollyroxy25]

***** i guess i got lucky because they never made us read this in highschool so i had never read the book

[@directorman550]

how was it working with Baz Luhrman? How does his directing style differ from someone like Christopher Nolan?

[@ThisIsWEB]

Yeah. I didn't pay a great deal of attention to any ads for this film, so I thought it was just my own fault that I was surprised to see him once the movie began.

[@EricRyder2012]

Hello Ben, Alonso and Christy, Eric Ryder here, great review on the movie "The Great Gatsby". I agreed with a lot of what you said. The visuals were very spectacular and the performances were hits like Leonardo Di Caprio and Carey Mulligan and misses like Joel Edgerton and Tobey Maguire who seems to be wandering off in his world without a clue to what's going on around him. The party scenes looked fun and the characters were engaging, but what really disappointed me was the script which felt a bit unsatisfying feeling that there was far too much style and not enough substance. Also I hated the fact that they used modern music for a period piece. Why couldn't they used jazz music to the era that fits the time period, it just looked very ridiculous at times. But that's just my opinion, to each their own. Please come by my channel I have a review on "The Great Gatsby" If you like feel free to leave a comment. Okay? Thank you very much.

[@bigcomcast]

Can not wait till they remake the Carpetbaggers!! Who will play Howard Hughes? I mean Jonas Cord.. And who will play Nevada Smith? Cords bodyguard and conscience. and will it be in 3D?

[@declanb21]

This review is the complete opposite from mine, Id give it a 9! Loved it!

[@Stuie299]

Wait, are you guys gonna review Frances Ha?

[@r3plyme]

The thing that is great about Gatsby is in Nicks opinion he stands by him at the end, we feel sad for him but its was Nicks choice. Its not the Great Gatsby because Gatsby is amazing and inspiring which I guess you may assume.

[@sonicjrjr14]

Well, I loved it. I thought it represented the book very well and is the only WATCHABLE adaptation we've had so far (74 Rob Redford version and 2002 Blair Underwood version are painfully boring. 2000 Paul Rudd was slightly better than them...but not by much).

[@film4seeing]

WTFFFFFFlick? Is this review a week late? I am so glad to see them back. I can't start my movie weekend without Christy, Alonso and Ben. Where's Matt though?

[@doritos180]

I never read the book and I went into the cinema knowing literally nothing about the story. I really enjoyed this film, a lot of the criticism of this film seems to stem from comparisons to the book and the past films. It actually made me want to go read the book because I want to get all the subtleties in the book that this film missed.

[@freegadflyathome]

Leo was great to me. I love Carrie Milligan, but she was so modified from the version in the book, I was so disappointed

[@Sauce1011]

Carey Mulligan get her name right you silly goose,,,, and she was simply amazing in that role i could see how she beat out so many other actors to nail it... her best role to date...you just lack taste and culture dear friend...go watch a marvel movie maybe

[@freegadflyathome]

@@Sauce1011 It had nothing to do with the actress. As I said, I love her. Go read the book you silly goose.

[@Sauce1011]

@@freegadflyathome thanos voice: perhaps i treated you too harshly....jokes aside I loved the direction they took in the movie ...she played a cynical shallow beauty so well.. "a beautiful little fool" so much emotion into that ..she was great but to each their own

[@omaragatha]

see that is what i felt.. i felt he was so simple and haven't read the novel i thought well isn't he supposed to be great... weren't they grooming us to be exposed to his greatness but if it was THE POINT of the story then it was delivered and then i can take back my initial agreement with Ben and go back to being on the opposite side of what he thinks.

[@Rosebud331]

The only thing I hated was the music. ugh Jay-Z in the 20's. Why did they even go there?

[@Gavin48]

I hear you man. They have become too cynical for my liking. Ben and Matt are cool though. I like those two

[@anthonydeadman]

You know I read the Great Gatsby back in High School....I got hooked on it as i progressed through the chapters but then at the ending it just let me down...as if it felt like it was building up the tension and drama and then went "Everything becomes depressing THE END" Now I watched the movie this week and i gotta say...it's no different from the book...besides it cutting out a few things from the book and having the camera zoom in constantly sometimes even shoving it in the characters faces.

[@youngbuck189]

I live in the city his family is from. I'm not talking about him, I'm talking about the person on the left.

[@jakejonescomedy]

Great special effects do not a good movie make unless the story has some semblance of depth. That is an old rule of film critics.

[@BarbieBlankie]

The fact that Leonardo DiCaprio is in this movie makes me give it a 100,000 out of 10!

[@loralogue]

Australia shot on location? One of the reasons so many Australians hated that movie is because half of the scenery is CGI!

[@XxSTLLMPTxX]

The characters are suppose to be shallow and superficial just like in the book. The movie did this well staying very true to the books plot. In fact one of the de facto themes is the superficial nature of these people and their times and how it all comes crashing down

[@BottleConcreteBlond]

I think the rap soundtrack might have made more of an impact 10 or 15 years ago but rap doesn't really have the same menace now that jazz had in the 20s--it did in the past but now rap is very mainstream.

[@BlitzenRot]

That's not irony. Irony is when you use something where someone does something, you notice it and you say it to get the result that you would have insulted them

[@girl8596]

I did not like the music in the movie. I think they should of used 1920s music, standard movie music, or covers on modern songs that have more of a 1920s sound (like their version of "Crazy in Love"). I like the songs but I don't like the songs in the movie.

[@JozieLeePro]

Geez, I'm not spending $16 bucks per ticket for this movie. So sad because I love everything Baz Luhrmann has done to date. Huge Strictly Ballroom, Australia, Moulin Rouge fan. Hoped Gatsby would be his best ever. WAH!

[@rbriggs89]

That's funny that they all liked the actress that played Jordin Baker because I thought she was the worst lead in the movie

[@mchance27]

They've already decided that the most talked about TV will always have a spot on WTF. So when Game of Thrones and Mad Men are over, they'll just pick something else.

[@jimshaw6920]

The visuals and style are great but have no substance beneath them. Exposition after exposition litters the entire movie to the point where I felt as if I were reading the actual book. Show us as opposed to tell us. 6/10

[@moviedude22]

Maybe Leo was a Holden Caufield fan. The way Christy described his performance maybe the jokes on us.

[@tylerpedraja6049]

woah-oh-oh, there are now spaces in What the Flick. It used to be WhattheFlick.

[@MrApollonian]

I think it's ironic. The movie draws criticism for not representing the hollowness of the American dream and the boom of the 20s, yet those criticism include how empty and airless the aesthetic is. It does it in a way that is rather brash towards it's audience, but in that regard doesn't Lurhman's Gatsby do service to the novel?

[@Donzo89]

The choice of music was a little iffy to me.

[@johnsailorsgoat]

You know I will say the first time I saw it I was pretty bored the majority of the time. But when I saw it the second time I opened up way more and enjoyed it waaaaaaaaaaaaay more. I mean I think it's GOOD but not fantastic like 'Moulin Rouge!'. Like 7 out of 10.

[@MaxxyWaxxy]

I saw it in 2D ^_^

[@BeaverOne]

Do not know why it's considered a classic as well.

[@naminova]

I think Leo tried too hard to be faithful to the book, and his performance suffered, and the Daisy girl didn't include enough of the book, and seemed bland.

[@anya2713]

i really

[@hyrdrogenalpha]

The grade ratings at the end are moronic! Either tell us go see the movie or stay home and save yourself some money! What the hell does 3.7 mean? That's why the thumbs-up or thumbs-down worked so well in the past. These three are too nice with each other! I wanna see BLOOD!

[@tleeg74]

Finally!!! A review thats NOT Game Of Thrones.

[@moviedude22]

"Dedicated to his crabs???" Crabs?! Ben has crabs? Awe man, not speaking from experience or anything , but that has to be the absolute worst. Stay strong and don't scratch1

[@zupermann123]

great review, when is matt coming back? guy is a beast

[@moviedude22]

Gawd! I was thinking the SAME exact thing. I've been avoiding WTF lately for precise reason

[@blowe461]

Alonso likes "Big Wedding" and "Movie 43" .. no jokes.

[@KatiHathor]

hmm i didn't know this was in 3d, i saw it in 2d, which is fine because it doesn't need to be in 3d

[@grenbaygrl1]

I respect your opinion on the film, but I have to strongly disagree with your thoughts on the direction. I'm an English teacher and I feel Luhrman's over-the-top style emphasized the message of the book not detract from it. The whole theme of the book is that underneath the glamorous and lively facade of the 20s was a decaying society that had no morals or empathy. The extravagant music and visuals build this facade. As you and other critics mention, it is so over-the-top that it loses it's meaning which. is. what. it. is. supposed. to. do. All the characters are one-dimensional and boring when all the lights and flash is stripped away because they are supposed to. Luhrman captured this so well, and I honestly think people aren't seeing how intentional it all was.

[@kaygirl10101]

I liked the movie, but I never read the book so that might be a part of it.

[@issagc]

They should have made Great Gatsby in our current time. We practically repeated history.

[@TheKhafra]

Moment 7:26, Christy OMG you just killed me!

[@Hamilton7776]

His performance didn't suffer. It was spot on. Gatsby himself is artificial - THATS THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT

[@jessydb2]

You are funny. Any way I never saw the movie nor did I read the novel. FYI the bonds are always better than the movie. That being said... As a "movie" is it OK to watch?

[@jessydb2]

Is it enjoyable

[@slmjz]

flagin havin I enjoyed it very much, definitely give it a chance :)

[@rawrisiloveuindinify]

The score was to modern for this movie but other then that it was a pretty good movie

[@peblezQ]

The soundtrack actually bothered me... It was so not accurate, and I just really don't like dubstep rap music... I was hoping for real jazz...

[@MegaMoose1989]

Hugo must have been the most realistic cartoon I ever seen. Scorsese would differ though.

[@FrenchTheLlamas]

You wanted these characters to be 'rich and meaningful' but they're simply not and that's the point. We see that at the end when nobody goes to Gatsby's funeral and through Nick's disgust of living within this city of hollow entities. It was suppose to be glitz and glamor without a thoughtful soul to be found. Nick and Gatsby were exempt from this- thus the connection. I do feel that this Gatsby was great as we could see the passion in his struggle to achieve his grand albeit misguided vision.

[@Vandal49]

I guess it makes planning bad lesson plans on the "American Dream" easier for mediocre English teachers? "What does the green light mean?" Multiple choice.

[@inspirationonline281]

That review was incredibly negative. I think the key to appreciating this movie is to understand that it doesn't substitute the book and it's not meant to. It's just Baz Luhrman being Baz Luhrman and doing it through a personal interpretation of the Great Gatsby.

[@johnsailorsgoat]

Hey I don't like him as a critic either but you don't have to go that extreme with it.

[@blowe461]

Wow, Alonso keeps missing the point of Life of Pi! It was faithful to the novel and the purpose wasn't the survival story. Just wow.. a whole six months after the movie was released and he still doesn't get it.

[@xTaymay]

So, according to you guys, the best and the ONLY decent lead performance in this film was Elizabeth Debicki? Uhh, okay then.

[@introducinggod8572]

This is one of my favorite movies. It is my favorite romance movie.

[@introducinggod8572]

... I got all of the meanings that the movie was trying to convey ... And I haven't read the book

[@introducinggod8572]

Gatsby was a great character. His death was the first movie death that made me actually upset...

[@introducinggod8572]

.... They just insulted .... Scott's work.... Oh my

[@introducinggod8572]

Aaaaand I'm done with this stupid review...

[@lisellesloan3191]

I know. That fat reviewer saying I read it and "I liked it"!! As if it's not the Great American Novel, just some minor novella that no one's ever heard of! Plus, rap music in the soundtrack! Next! Immediate disqualification! It totally destroys the realism of the movie that way.

[@dustancopeland6473]

Um...I don't think these people have read the book...

[@Rainbowxpride89]

I don't think any audience members give a shit about what the director is doing.

[@T27Blue]

I liked the movie, though i felt it was overly long

[@rawrisiloveuindinify]

Gatsby was suppose to seem artificial because he was the point was that he was covering up his poor upbringing

[@TheAzertjuh]

Yeh, they think they're fucking smart but in a lot of reviews I feel like they look at it without thinking...

[@LPantelakos]

I totally disagree with their views on DiCaprio's performance. Gatsby is a character that attempts to transform himself into something bigger than himself, and that is how people see him, when in reality Gatsby is a simple farm boy. In that sense DiCaprio completely embodies Jay Gatsby. Ultimately, Carraway is taken with the man he is not the artificial persona he created for himself.

[@gypsyvanneraddict]

It was shot in pov - it's another world -

[@KarlMarxhaswifi]

I am here from the future. Leo won his oscar

[@DasGuteMan]

DiCaprio was way better than Redford's Gatsby, but still this movie is so 2-Dimensional.

[@basquat76]

3D has to be the most worn down gimmick ever. I mean Gatsby in 3D. That's just laughable

[@breslonovic]

The fact that Ben's opinion felt swayed into saying that the film wasn't great simply by others and not his own opinion tells you everything about him as a reviewer... Shit

[@TKoote]

All that Mad Men and Game of Thrones nonsense is getting in the way of what WTF?! is all about; great movie reviews like this.

[@moosetke05]

Shirts make Daisy sad...

[@lacourtneystzr3]

They missed the point entirely. These characters were not special and Gatsby was a social climber. Leo did his job and maybe they need to reread it

[@sampa2nyc]

Wow, could this review been any more dismissive?

[@serenityq26]

just a flashy over the top mess. big props to tobey mcquire since no one but me appreciates his talent

[@theolamp5312]

Bix Beiderbecke or Jay Z? Hmm

[@0508Gee]

HD does Christy no favors

[@OLuckyMan1973]

The movie still blows balls and I've read the book 3 times.

[@Belloran24]

Very flawed movie. I hated it on first viewing. But after watching it again, it's not terrible. It's just not good either. It could have been more subtle. And the love story could have used some significant fleshing out. The Nick Carraway character was mostly useless until the end of the movie. It was just a lot of wasted opportunities.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

You know what? I'm glad I never had to read this book. My experience with lit courses were always the fun, dystopian novels.

[@Phyrexious]

Limiting the power of government is such a hollow and shallow statement. I evaluate each legislation on its own merits, not by some cheesy one-liner ideology that does all the thinking for me. Good laws are good, and bad laws are bad. Yes, it'll require some brainpower to separate the two. But going with the mantra that 'less is always better' is an intellectual black hole on top of being extremely lazy. Good luck with that.

[@skiracer0295]

finally the review comes out!

[@quty310]

how right you are old sport.

[@teabagNBG]

I just thought I might give it a try.... I stopped after a half hour .. I cant stand all this music and this dancing.... also I don’t know if I’m the only one but I think they all try to act funny in the movie...

[@r3plyme]

I dont watch this channel a huge amount. But do you get excited about any films? I know there or negatives in the film and its your own opinion but come on guys have a bit of life in you

[@oooitzeli]

gatsby WAS a creepy/sad/delusional man..leo played him like no one ever had, redford's gatsby was so cold and stiff, i thought the acting was the best part of this movie..and i enjoyed it so eh.

[@Coffeeisnecessarynowpepper]

These old people jokes...they laugh so much at such jokes for old people...