Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Great Gatsby (2013): Leonardo DiCaprio and F. Scott Fitzgerald


     Directed by Baz Luhrmann, based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (2013) gives the classic story a 21st Century edge... including contemporary rap music, which may or may not have been the right choice. Time will tell. The film takes some liberties with the original plot, but maintains the feel of lost love during the Roaring 1920's. The cinematography is vibrant, the Art Deco set design is superb and the party scenes are utterly dazzling. Leonardo DiCaprio is great as Jay Gatsby. Carey Mulligan is sultry as Daisy Buchanan. Tobey Maguire is nicely restrained as Nick Carraway. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke and Elizabeth Debicki.


The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Jordan Baker

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Jordan Baker

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Jordan Baker

The Great Gatsby. 2013

The Great Gatsby. 2013: Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

Last Knights (2015): Morgan Freeman, Clive Owen and Medieval Revenge


     Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, Last Knights (2015) received negative reviews and had a nearly straight-to-video release. Nevertheless, the film does has some good qualities. The revenge story concerns a medieval warrior who rises to fight back against a corrupt ruler after the tragic death of his Moorish master. While historical in atmosphere, the plot isn't based on any actual events. Nice attention to detail was given in regards to period costume and set design. The cast does a decent job with the material, including Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen.


Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015: Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen

Last Knights. 2015: Clive Owen