Gatsby on Screen

I watched all the Gatsby movies (except the now-lost silent film from 1926) so you don't have to! Just kidding, I'm not a movie reviewer and find it difficult to sit through movies (even though I can sit and read a book in a day, go figure) so I'm often very grumpy and narrow-minded with my interpretations. Still... here they are! Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!

2013

Over the top. The cinematic swoops, overly bright lighting, and cartoonish sharpness made me think of David LaChapelle photographs, which I know have their fans but just look garish and AI-generated to me.

I think the music was too much and the dancing was so jerky that it should have just gone all out as a musical.

I grew up watching the Robert Redford and Sam Waterston version, so I'm biased, and I also don't like Tobey Maguire or Leonardo DiCaprio, so that furthers my bias, but I just don't like this version. That said, I'm glad it was made since it showed a different take on things, and it brought the book back into the spotlight (more than it being required reading for most high schoolers does). Tobey Maguire as Nick just seems so... empty. He seems like the most clueless, sheltered man ever. I got sick of his blank, dumbfounded stares by the first Gatsby party. I have always been intrigued by Nick as a narrator but this movie makes me hate him and question his intelligence in every way. He's intolerable.

2002

I didn't know what to expect with this interpretation... mostly since it's just 97 minutes, and the previous Gatsby flicks I've seen (1974 and 2013) seem entirely too long. Honestly, I was excited to see how the story would unfold when there was a time constraint.

I think this was actually a good movie. I say actually because, in reading reviews, I see criticism for it not being Gatsby enough and not being hip-hop enough. I can agree with both of those takes, but it was pretty refreshing in my mind. There were some nice liberties taken (I mean, there's a homeowner's association involved!) and a good twist regarding the death at the end that kept me interested.

2000

Janet and I watched this and posted reactions on Bluesky on April 12th. I'd previously seen the first half hour or so... yes, that's all, despite owning the DVD. I can't focus on movies for some reason, even if they do include Paul Rudd. This one was well done and concise and I enjoyed all of the actors, so it became my first place Gatsby version after our watch party.

1974

This is the version I grew up with. I remember watching this and The Natural and developing the biggest crush on Robert Redford - what a dreamboat! I thought Sam Waterston was the best Nick until I saw the Paul Rudd version, but I think they capture the same essence. That said, I can't stand how Mia Farrow acts as Daisy, though I do think she's very Daisy-like. Overall, the movie just seems a bit too long to me, so after seeing the 2000 A&E version, that became my new favorite and this was demoted to second place. Still a solid offering, though.

If I could mix and match them to make my own all-star movie, I would choose:

Joel Edgerton - Tom Buchanan

Mira Sorvino - Daisy Buchanan

Paul Rudd - Nick Carraway

Robert Redford - Jay Gatsby

Elizabeth Debicki - Jordan Baker (a bit Zoey Deschanel though)

Isla Fisher - Myrtle Wilson

Gatsby The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

 Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

This book was published in 2014 (by Rowman & Littlefield, I have to shamelessly announce because they also published my first book), so a lot of it focuses on The Great Gatsby 2013 movie, which is... not my favorite, but I'll address the movie specifically later.

But this book isn't about the movie - it puts Gatsby in context throughout history, academia, and more. It starts by covering Fitzgerald's life and the process of writing this classic, and then covers eras as the book went in and out of popularity. Batchelor relates the book to the American Dream in different iterations, dives into the romantic aspect, and addresses greed.

Like the novel itself, this is a book I could come back to time and time again and find something new. I already maxed out the library holds (on my card and my son's!) just to spend enough time with it for an initial read. It could be a textbook for a course studying the cultural context of Gatsby... and you know I'd take that class!

Here's the official blurb from the publisher, which explains it more concisely than I can:

In Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel, Bob Batchelor explores the birth, life, and enduring influence of The Great Gatsby—from the book’s publication in 1925 through today’s headlines filled with celebrity intrigue, corporate greed, and a roller-coaster economy. A cultural historian, Batchelor explains why and how the novel has become part of the fiber of the American ethos and an important tool in helping readers to better comprehend their lives and the broader world around them.

A “biography” of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, this book examines The Great Gatsby’s evolution from a nearly-forgotten 1920s time capsule to a revered cultural touchstone. Batchelor explores how this embodiment of the American Dream has become an iconic part of our national folklore, how the central themes and ideas emerging from the book—from the fulfillment of the American Dream to the role of wealth in society—resonate with contemporary readers who struggle with similar uncertainties today. By exploring the timeless elements of reinvention, romanticism, and relentless pursuit of the unattainable, Batchelor confirms the novel’s status as “The Great American Novel” and, more importantly, explains to students, scholars, and fans alike what makes Gatsby so great.