The Great Gatsby is a great American novel, and this is a surprisingly mediocre movie in spite of the talents who appear in it. It's been years since I last read the novel but the plot certainly follows the novel's contours as I remember them. A young Sam Waterston is a good choice for Nick Carroway, the observer-narrator. He's the only major character who is well represented. Robert Redford sounds like a perfect choice for Gatsby as does Mia Farrow for Daisy Buchanan. But the combination doesn't work. The chemistry between them just isn't there. Redford is particularly disappointing. Despite a gorgeous setting and all the other trappings of wealth, his Gatsby lacks authenticity. He says his lines but doesn't appear to suffer from his longing for Daisy. Standing on the dock, looking across to the Buchanan residence just doesn't make it. Farrow is better as the beautiful Daisy, concerned only for herself, enjoying Gatsby's attentions but without returning his love for more than a pleasant few moments. Bruce Dern as Buchanan is simply not there, as I suppose he is meant not to be. The garage owner and his slut of a wife are well cast but the murder of Gatsby takes place without much on-screen tension, even if you don't remember the novel's outcome. I can imagine a less interesting rendition of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, but only with a lot of effort and it's equally difficult to imagine that this movie would have sent anyone running to read the book.
Review of The Great Gatsby
