What should one expect of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby as it hits theatres today? The film has seen a series of trailers that have undoubtedly divided audiences, from what I’ve been able to gather anyway. I’ve heard responses that state outright that it looks like it could be the best movie or the worst movie of the year. My view is that every trailer released for it so far has been damn good, but this by no means indicates the film itself will actually live up to the standard set by the spirit of those previews.
Trailers are rarely an accurate barometer of how a movie will turn out. What tends to be a far better indicator of the final outcome is what we know of the director and collaborators that put the film together. In the case of Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann is the figure people should look to as a predictor of whether they should see the movie or not. And he’s a bit of a polarizing figure. With his Red Curtain Trilogy, consisting of Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge, dividing audiences and critics alike, one thing is certain: this Aussie auteur delivers movies that are unlike those of any other filmmaker today, or perhaps ever. The Great Gatsby appears as though it will continue in this line of creative style.
Here are 6 unique qualities of the work of Baz Luhrmann that make him indispensable when it comes to cinematic expression.
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