Many high expectations were anticipated from the ardent Gatsby fans as they waited for the premiere last Thursday night.  But were these expectations met? Of course, old sport! However, this is a movie one cannot look at as just another drama, or action movie whose purpose is solely to entertain its audience with jokes and unexpected, mind-blowing endings. The Great Gatsby is a movie that must be looked at from an aesthetic standpoint in order to see the masterpiece Buz Luhrmann has created.

One of the many innovative facets of Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is his deviation from the use of regular film cameras.  By going digital, Luhrmann gives the movie a new outlook by producing better special effects that, although conflicting and aberrant to the way one is used to seeing movies, successfully recreate all of the essential scenes of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Moreover, the novel’s plot, though somewhat altered, still kept most events in the chronological order as they appear in the novel, which is rare to see in films.

Naturally, one must not forget about Damien Drew, Ian Gracie, and Michael Turner, the art directors who also made this movie such a success. The flamboyant Prada costumes, with the eccentric, yet majestic makeup of all the characters, set up the aesthetically beautiful and alluring scenes of this movie. In addition to that, the use of colors and the way in which the setting was decorated further illustrates the magnificent work of this trio. Not only did they capture the essence of the 1920s, but also they were able to make the settings talk to the audience, as if to tell the mood of each scene, especially the obnoxious, lustful reds seen in Myrtle’s apartment. Moreover, one must not forget the elaborate ways in which the film grasps the main details and the essence of the novel, as well as its themes like the green light symbolizing Gatsby’s hope, the hollowness of the upper class, and the decline of the American Dream.

The incorporation of songs from modern singers like Fergie, Lana Del Rey, and Jay-Z in a setting with speakeasies and parties full of obnoxious, gamboling flappers also give an extraordinary twist to this film. But even the music could not compete with the actors and actresses’ performance, specifically Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance. He submerges so well into his character that one can almost feel his desire and love for Daisy, as well as his agony and rage when confronting Tom.

A movie that deviates from the norm and experiments with other ways to convey a story should not be rated as being bad just because it is different than what one is accustomed to watching. Therefore, it is crucial to rate this film from an artistic point of view in order to contemplate the creativity and beauty of The Great Gatsby. For this very reason, this film deserves a 4 out 5.