I couldn’t help but compare the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby and the 2013 version when I went to the theater yesterday. I do not normally review movies but because there is so much hype around the recent version of the classic novel I felt compelled to share my take on the two movies.
I never really liked the 1974 version. I had not read the novel so I couldn’t say how the movie compares to the book but I found the movie depressing and exhausting. The story is a brilliant one but I felt sad from beginning to end when I watched the 1974 version. Robert Redford was the best part of the movie in my opinion. Robert Redford makes it seem as though playing Jay Gatsby is effortless. Redford is cool and dignified and has a chivalrous quality that seems scarce these days.
I enjoyed the 2013 version of this movie more than the 1974 version mainly because it didn’t have a looming sadness throughout the entire film. The lavish scenes gave a modern day viewer a glimpse of what those days may have felt like during that time period; a bit of a translation for modern audiences if you will. The end seemed to drag out as it stayed true to the original and sad premise of the original story. I enjoyed the acting in the movie although I couldn’t help but compare Leonardo DiCaprio to Robert Redford as I watched the movie and after the movie had ended I realized why I didn’t like Leo in this role… In the 1974 version Robert Redford is cool and dignified with amazing charisma and in the 2013 version Leonardo DiCaprio does a good job of acting cool, dignified and charismatic.
The Great Gatsby still dazzles and is well worth seeing at least once, even if it’s simply for the depth of the story.
