That's Typing Tuesday, in which I occasionally share unpolished, unpublished writings from my vast store of unpolished, unpublished writings. On Tuesdays.Obviously I haven't seen Baz Luhrmann's take on The Great Gatsby yet—it's not due in theaters for another year. But generally speaking, I'll say this: making a movie of The Great Gatsby is like going to a museum, taking all the pictures off the wall and studying the hooks. The dialogue and surface level action is meaningless—simply contrivances upon which Fitzgerald hung his gorgeous prose and startling insights.
I hope Baz Luhrmann can lick the problem of bringing Gatsby to life, but if he can, he'll be the first, for Gatsby is already alive, and anyone trying to adapt it to another medium necessarily has to kill it first.
Nick:
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. . . .
-- Gatsby
Personally, I'm not holding out hope that this will be THE definitive Gatsby movie. . .with it being touted more for the 3-D than the story line, it's probably going to be one of those that people "have to see", but the essence will escape their memory after it's over. And from the previews/trailers I've seen, the music is hideous (in my opinion).
ReplyDelete3-D Gatsby -- God help us.
ReplyDeleteThere's no way anyone in the film will be more three-dimensional than the characters Fitzgerald wove with words. . . .
ReplyDeleteCaptcha: 30 madman
I have such high hopes for this film. It is by far my favorite American novel and I do think that Leo is a brilliant choice. Can Luhrmann pull it off? I have my fingers crossed (but it already looks "too big").
ReplyDelete