'Gatsby' A Visually-Stunning Feature (Dietrich Film Favorite Series)

*** 2013's 'The Great Gatsby' is now one of the many films that are part of the Dietrich Film Favorite Series. This review (though slightly tweaked) is one that I wrote for the Examiner back when the film was playing in town! ***

The 1925 novel "The Great Gatsby" is known to be one of the greatest American novels written in the 20th century. There has also been numerous film and TV adaptations of the novel, and a Broadway play based on the book has also been produced. Now, acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann brings the novel back to life on the big screen in the dazzling film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby."

In the Warner Brothers presentation of "The Great Gatsby," Nick Carraway is an aspiring bond broker in 1920s New Work City. While living on the outskirts of the booming city, Nick re-establishes a friendship with his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan.

One Day, Nick finally gets a chance to meet his rich neighbor Jay Gatsby, a young rich man who likes to throw very extravagant parties for the rich. While Nick gets to know Gatsby, he learns of a love affair between Gatsby and Daisy that started before the first World War.

Now, Nick has to try to cope with that news and also try to find out a secret that Gatsby could be hiding.

"Great Gatsby" is a terrific film adaptation of the beloved F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The film captures the 1920s perfectly, with the wild parties everywhere in the city and the stock market booming. DiCaprio's acting as the rich Gatsby is top-notch and should definitely get some kind of recognition when awards season starts up again towards the end of the year.

The CG imagery also helped make the 1920s NYC come alive. The film's soundtrack that features some of today's hardest-working artists also helps keep the film going. If you enjoyed the acclaimed novel, then the film adaptation of "Gatsby" is really recommended.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio plays the title role of Jay Gatsby. Last December, DiCaprio garnered a lot of acclaim for his villainous role in the Quentin Tarantino hit "Django Unchained." Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway, who is befriending Gatsby. Maguire hasn't appeared in a feature film since the 2009 drama "Brothers." Carey Mulligan plays Daisy, who catches Gatsby's eye. She has recently starred in the indie hit "Drive" and the "Wall Street" sequel.

Other cast members include: Joel Edgerten (Zero Dark Thirty) as Tom Buchanan, Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker, Isla Fisher (Rise of the Guardians) as Myrtle Wilson, Jason Clarke (Lawless; Zero Dark Thirty) as George B. Wilson, Amitabh Bachchan as Meyer Wolfsheim and Adelaide Clemens (Silent Hill: Revelation) as Catherine. "The Great Gatsby" is co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann, who has recently directed "Australia" and the highly acclaimed "Moulin Rouge."

A new film adaptation of "Gatsby" has been in some sort of development stage since December 2008. Director Luhrmann wanted to take his time with the film due to its theme of the often irresponsible lifestyle of wealthy people and wanted to get the 1920s look right.

In 2010, Sony Pictures was originally set to distribute the film, until Warner acquired a deal to finance the project and have worldwide distribution. Many actresses, including Keira Knightley, Amanda Seyfried and Michelle Williams auditioned for the role of Daisy.

"The Great Gatsby" is rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language and has a running time of 143 minutes.