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Latest Gatsby a spectacle for limited audience
Movie Reviews
By Lynne Martin
THE GREAT GATSBY (2013) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel of the same name. A great American classic, this book originally received a lukewarm reception before managing to sell over 25 million copies worldwide. With this latest instalment being the story’s sixth adaptation to the screen, we once again view a cautionary tale of those willing to sacrifice everything while making a grab for the elusive American dream.
Set in the roaring ‘20s during a time when promiscuous attitudes and bootleg alcohol fuelled New York’s finest parties, Nick Carraway decides to hide away and educate himself on the rising stock market. Within days of his relocation, Nick is surprised to realize that he’s moved in next door to the legendary Jay Gatsby, millionaire businessman and host of the city’s most extravagant parties. Choosing to socialize with the elusive Gatsby after receiving a rare personal invitation, Nick and Jay unexpectedly become fast friends. Nick’s cousin Daisy and her philandering husband also find themselves drawn into Gatsby’s exclusive circle as the summer festivities ramp up to an unexpected conclusion.
With repeated themes of excess, decadence, and the conscious fight to squelch any hint of social change, THE GREAT GATSBY clearly speaks to a culture of privilege. This era of limited social conscience becomes tiresome rather quickly, the filming style of director Baz Luhrmann only adding to the audience’s inability to find a relatable character.
As a spectacle, THE GREAT GATSBY succeeds where others are not even able to compete. As a movie intent on drawing large audiences—it will not succeed. Although few men wear a suit and carry themselves as well as DiCaprio, Maguire’s version of Carraway is somewhat muddled and confusing with his sexual ambiguity. PG-13, 142 mins, Drama, Romance, ** 2 stars out of 5.
Liberace’s secret life on display Behind the Candelabras
Looking back, it’s almost incomprehensible to realize that many audience members flocking to Las Vegas in the 1970s were unaware that Liberace (Lee to friends, Walter to family) was a practicing homosexual—but he was the ultimate showman and chose to live a life of smoke-and-mirrors both on and off the stage. BEHIND THE CANDELABRAS (2013) starring Michael Douglas, Matt Damon and Rob Lowe is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name written by Liberace’s ex-lover Scott Thorson and released on HBO.
After Liberace and Scott’s initial introduction at the Las Vegas Hilton in the summer of 1977, their casual meeting quickly evolved into an intimate relationship with Scott eventually taking up residence in Liberace’s palatial mansions. The remaining five years of their tumultuous relationship was plagued with excessive spending, drug abuse, infidelity, and rounds of unnecessary plastic surgery.
A brilliant performer who was known as the highest paid entertainer in the world from 1950 to 1970 — Liberace’s doomed relationship with a bisexual man 40 years his junior is a sad footnote on the secret life of this closet homosexual. Having denied his sexuality throughout his entire life, Liberace even went as far as to sue any media source who hinted otherwise, successfully squelching the truth until his death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1987 at the age of 67.
Watching Douglas and Damon portray passionate lovers, we’re able to forget that they are playing a role and easily lose ourselves in their performances. Willingly able to suspend the knowledge that both actors are loving family men, we accept them as Liberace and Scott. Remarkable performances filmed during a tight 30-day schedule for only $23 million dollars. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Unrated, 118 mins, Biography, Drama, Romance, **** 4 stars out of 5.
– Lynne Martin is an avid movie collector and a staunch supporter of sexual education. She currently resides in Alberta, Canada with her husband and their large extended family. For a complete list of her reviews and other works, or to leave a comment, please go to: www.lynnemartinbooks.com.
