*Spoiler Alert*
Ahead of its May 10 opening in the US, the heavily-anticipated, much-hyped filmic wonderment that was to be Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby, has copped some critic reviews that can only be described as ‘mixed’.
If we evaluate what’s come to light so far, a general consensus isn’t really to be found— though there are several recurring pieces of commentary. If you’re allergic to other people’s opinions or care not for this premature information, cast your eyes elsewhere.
ALL OF THE OPINIONS:
Lurhmann’s ‘vulgarity’ and ‘stunning absence of taste’ are lamented by David Denby, film critic of The New Yorker.
In an industry magazine Variety, Scott Foundas describes the film as “a well-rehearsed classic in which the actors say their lines ably, but with no discernible feeling behind them”.
Tim Grierson of Screen Daily asserts that ‘the book’s subtlety and shading get trampled under his overblown aesthetic’.
We have Rafer Guzman of Newsday conceding Lurhmann scored ‘some hits and wild misses, but DiCaprio nails the bull’s-eye’.
A hugely elaborate, well cast adaptation of an American classic that will provoke every possible reaction’ says Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter.
And a dizzyingly low blow from Alonso Duralde at The Wrap: ‘This film marks the official moment in which Baz Luhrmann’s signature style has become self-parody’.
So, the above, together with other rather ballsy comments that decry Lurhmann’s signature opulence, commend the performance of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan as outshining Leo’s and other dramatic injections forge an aggregate Rotten Tomatoes score of 43% hitherto. Jesus.
But in the interest of realism, that 43% is based on only 7 reviewers over less than 24 hours, and does anyone pay attention to these things anyway? Anyhoo, the movie’s Australian release date is May 30. Until then, you can keep on top of Rotten Tomatoes for more preliminary convoluted noise.
