You could hear a pin drop in the closing seconds of the great Gatsby; a sure sign that this eclectic audience was enthralled. A group of three blokes in their late teens and groups of serious-looking girls (clearly looking for something other than Leonardo DiCaprio) punctuated the usual bag of mixed-aged adults.
It is a good film for everyone, then, students and those who read it in their youth because Baz Luhrmann has lovingly recreated the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third novel, down to the very last, coveted art deco teapot and direct quotes from the novel itself.
In this much-studied exploration of growing up, dreams, regret and loss, not to mention the corrupting influence of money, this acclaimed fi lm version keeps to the spirit of the novel; narrator nick caraway (Tobey Maguire) is very much the observer, his growing admiration of the mysterious Gatsby links to our growing knowledge of the his background, although, like the novel, it’s not entirely clear how he gained his riches. The central plot of his love intense promises, hushed meetings and stolen glances. The tragic denouement is tense, heart-breaking and shocking. Luhrmann succeeds in capturing the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere of the 1920s where the world is kicking back against the First World War, and in America, prohibition: so there is sex, drugs and rock and roll – colour, great music (a signature of this director) and respectful interpretation of his source material. For your English students, this adaptation is a must. But for drama students, too, this is a masterclass in acting, particularly from DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan (Daisy) in particular – each thought and feeling is portrayed with subtlety in their faces. This film has been much criticised partly because it fails to capture the spirit and beauty of the metaphorical nature of Fitzgerald’s writing. My bet is that students will love it, and will be debating its themes long into the night.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: another one to divide purists and modernists; this retelling in Shakespeare’s original text by Josh Whedon was shot over 12 days in the director’s house.
HOW I LIVE NOW: based on the wonderful Meg Rosoff’s award-winning 2004 novel about 15-year-old Daisy, an American girl on holiday in the English countryside with her family who finds herself in hiding and fighting for her survival as war breaks out.
PERCY JACKSON: Sea Of Monsters: based on Rick Riordan’s mega-popular series – but remember what he told ink Pellet a couple of years ago: ‘film is a version of a book’.
THE HOBBIT 2: The Desolation of Smaug: Part two. The big question about this film is: will the ink Pellet editor be able to keep away?
A great study guide
Talking of modern takes, students might wish to support their study with the Connell guide to Scott Fitzgerald’s the great Gatsby, one in a super series that has been adorning my desk for a couple of months.
First published in 2010 and written by John Sutherland (Lord Northcliffe Professor emeritus UCL) and Jolyon Connell (first class English graduate and founder of the Week and money Week).
the pocket guides offer intelligent support for the student and novice reader, covering short essays on the major themes and issues of the novel from the use of the narrator as a device to how women are treated in the novel. in addition, the guide explores the social, historical and concise extended ‘footnotes’ – including a discussion in fewer than 150 words about the word ‘great’ and how Fitzgerald excised it in a comment from Gatsby himself, ‘one of innumerable examples of his attention to detail…’ a snip at £6.99 this is a handy reference book that will stretch the student’s knowledge and give the teacher some food for thought.