The Great Gimmick
Posted in General on February 23rd, 2011 by Eugene Finerman – 11 Comments‘Great Gatsby’ to be Filmed in 3-D
Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel will begin filming at Fox Studios in August. The film will star Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby; Carey Mulligan is expected to play the role of Daisy Buchanan, the article said.
Hollywood usually adapts novels to 1-D. Of course, when you are trying to condense “The Brothers Karamazov” to two hours, it might as well be the rollicking adolescent adventures of a jock, a nerd and a goody-two-shoes. (The Grand Inquisitor is now the examiner for the driver’s license test.) So I am amazed at the thought of a 3-D “Great Gatsby”; I am guessing that it will be marketed with a new video game “Great Theft Auto: East Egg.” See how many times you can run over Myrtle Wilson!
But, Old Sport, through the engrossing wonders of 3-D, the viewer will be absorbed by the film. Welcome to the Jazz Age. (Remember, Zelda and Cole are only flirting with you. Gertrude isn’t, and you don’t dare turn her down.) Of course, you will be at the mercy of the camera’s angles and the director’s quirks. So you could be either a soused patrician or Tom Buchanan’s polo pony.
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past“. Thanks to 3-D, we’ll also get seasick.