(B)adaptations Script: The Great Gatsby

Ian: Hello and welcome to the show. My name is Ian.

Woody: And I’m Woody.

Ian: Today we will be discussing F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” and its recent adaptation to the screen from Baz Luhrmann in 2013.

Woody: There was another adaptation prior to the 2013 interpretation in 1974, directed by Jack Clayton, but the more recent interpretation has a lot more elements in the film to be discussed, as it is a modern take on the classic story.

Ian: Yes and Baz Luhrmann also directed “Romeo and Juliet” in 1996 with Leonardo DiCaprio, and “Moulin Rouge” that both took on modern perspectives of the story, so he has experience bringing these classic narratives to the screen even with Dicaprio. In “The Great Gatsby,” he once again shows the viewers his sensational cinematography and mise-en-scene.

Woody: That, can be both goodaptation and badaptation at the same time. Some says that they are beautifully done, but some also says that they are just “too much,” overly exaggerated.

Ian: These extravagant party scenes in “The Great Gatsby” are meant to be over the top, lavish and aesthetically overwhelming. Certainly Luhrmann cannot be held at fault for depicting them in the fashion that he did.

Woody: Interesting. What do you think about the music? Taking modern electronic and Hip-Hop music approach to portray the 1920’s Jazz Era, having artists such as Jay-Z and Beyonce on the soundtrack.

Ian: I personally liked the taste and selection that was orchestrated for the film, as the many currently relevant artists were able to add to this sense of the lavish lifestyle in the world of “The Great Gatsby” that the modern day viewer can relate to more easily. What were your thoughts on their decisions?

Woody: So the music would be goodaption for you. For me, personally, it was badaptation. I found the music to be too distracting and again, I felt they were attempting to be too stylish and “hip” in their adaptation of such a classic novel.

Ian: Alright, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, as I feel it is just a matter of preference. How about we discuss the differences in the narrative and tone of the film in comparison to the original novel. What were your thoughts?

Woody: In my opinion, the dialogue and monologues were adapted truthfully. I couldn’t spot that many differences. But in terms of the film’s tone, I think the film definitely felt different than the original novel. Like, the narrative is supposed to be so much deeper, but the film made it to feel like nothing more than just another tragic love story movie.

Ian: What do you feel that they could have added or changed to make it more true to the original in their portrayal?

Woody: They could have developed more into supporting characters like Jordan and Myrtle. I feel like they definitely had a more important role in the original novel, but in the film, Jordan and Myrtle do not seem to play as pivotal of a role in forwarding the narrative. Also, I really did not like Daisy when reading the original novel. However, Carey Mulligan’s portrayal of the character is made to be lovable. Even I thought Daisy in Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of the film is kind of lovely, but she is supposed to be extremely materialistic person.

Ian: What about the famous scene where Jay Gatsby is throwing his clothes “bought by a man in England” down to Daisy?

Woody: Definitely goodaptation for me, did you like it?

Ian: Yes, the scene was visually stunning and honestly I felt that the scene was transferred to the screen better than I had imagined it while reading the book, with the array of pastel colored clothes raining down over Daisy.

Woody: So I think it’s time to decide, overall is Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of “The Great Gatsby” a good adaptation or a badaption?

Ian: Honestly, I loved the film. I thought Luhrmann was able to provide a fresh take on the narrative and seamless include modern components to help create this world. Additionally, the film even exceeded my expectations during some of the most iconic sequences in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. How about you?

Woody: I feel the exact same.

Ian: Well, I guess that’s it for video. Please leave a like if you liked the video and comment below on what you thought about the film, and we will see you next time!