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Baz Luhrmann’s isn’t one to hold back. The Moulin Rouge director is probably closest in spirit to the Bollywood idiom than any other non-Indian has ever been. His new film, The Great Gatsby, which was the opener of the 66th Cannes Film Festival, is yet another proof of that. Bollywood’s own Amitabh Bachchan being part of the project was, therefore, no surprise although the blink-and-you-miss nature of the role is. At the post-screening news conference, Luhrmann declared that Bachchan is one of the finest actors he has ever worked with. If that is indeed true, shouldn’t he have thought of a more substantial role for the Mumbai veteran? There is no point in quibbling now that the horse has bolted. Suffice it to say that The Great Gatsby is a good entertainer, but it could have been great. The 3D film is big, long and spectacular, but isn’t probably true to F. Scott Fitzgerald. However, that isn’t necessarily a drawback. Luhrmann, amid all the razzmatazz, gives the drama a contemporary resonance by focusing on the extravagant lifestyle of the eponymous character and contrasting it with the rest of the society that he was a part of. The viewer might not be able to see any reflection of the elegant Fitzgerald prose for every detail is overlaid with music, costumes and CGI tricks. The cast, led by Leonardo DiCaprio, is so outstanding that often you do not even notice that the showman is in his elements, raising every moment and every detail to a pitch markedly higher than it is in the timeless book. The characters do not quite assume lives of their own, and, therefore, have to rely on Luhrmann’s virtuoso style to jump out of their skins and make an impact on the hearts and minds of the viewers. But no matter what, the director knows exactly how to manipulate the medium for maximum effect. He pulls out all the stops and delivers a high-energy and infectiously vibrant cinematic rendition of highly regarded literary source. Luhrmann extracts superb performances from his cast. Leonardo DiCaprio is as impressive as ever and Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton. The one question that is bound to be asked by anybody who watches the film: was 3D really necessary for The Great Gatsby? Technology does add to the power of the film but does little to enhance its emotional quotient. It only serves to accentuate the opulence that surrounds the lead character. The Great Gatsby is always dazzling but not quite as moving. It could have done with a little more soul.
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