While the movie is a sensory overload, the original 1925 novel was initially a commercial "dud," selling fewer than 20,000 copies before Fitzgerald's death in 1940. It only reached legendary status after it was distributed to U.S. soldiers during World War II
It is a small change, but a profound one. Fitzgerald wrote that we are all boats against the current. Luhrmann says we are all believers. That is more optimistic, perhaps too optimistic. But it is also more cinematic. The Great Gatsby -2013-
The most controversial choice was the music. Instead of period-accurate jazz, Luhrmann handed the reins to Jay-Z. The result is a soundtrack featuring Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, and Jack White slamming into Gershwin-esque orchestrations. While the movie is a sensory overload, the