Films to see

The Great Gatsby will undoubtedly provoke a strong reaction. If you believe that the end justifies the means, then you will love this film. If not, then at least you will have something to talk about.

The film is extremely easy to watch despite its length, and that is one of its main advantages. You will quickly get absorbed into the story, becoming the silent witness to the events, not unlike the book's protagonist. There is enough foreshadowing to keep the story tight, and the film stays more-or-less faithful to the book.

The cast was selected brilliantly. They not only look as you would imagine they should, but their performances are right there at the top.

Now, we are getting to the more controversial topics. Despite having the most exquisite period costumes, the film uses modern music. This is a great pity, but it is true that it supports the film's atmosphere. A modern viewer would probably associate a wild party with modern music, and this is why this little heresy (call it what you may) works; however, it rips the story out of its context somehow, and it might make it difficult to engage with for older viewers. Also, it creates a sense of a wasted opportunity to accurately portray the jazz age on film.

The other problem of this film is that the special effects are on the heavy side, and often quite unnecessary. Sure, it looks pretty, but it might steer the attention away from what's really important.

Whether you can forgive The Great Gatsby its transgressions or not, it is definitely an interesting film and worth a watch.