The Great Gatsby Film Analysis Essay

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The Great Gatsby, a film directed by Baz Luhrman, is based on the popular 1925 novel of the same name. It trails the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby and his neighbour Nick, who narrates his encounter with Gatsby at the pinnacle of the prosperous twenties. Twenty four minutes into the film, Nick begins the scene with a description of Gatsby’s saturday night parties which is a key scene where director Luhrman uses film techniques to convey core ideas. Gatsby’s parties have become legendary due to their outlandish and marvellous stunts which are connected to various techniques and produce a relevant background story on Gatsby. For example, some of the guests have speculated that he was once a German spy, a Kaiser’s assassin or was even said to have killed a man. Different shots reveal that few guests have met Gatsby yet leading to the mysterious nature of their host. As Nick arrives at the party, the scenes and techniques used are very clear and portray a sentimental yet mysterious foreshadowing over the main characters. The building bass in the music forms audience suspicion as to why everyone always comes to Gatsby’s great parties, which leads the audience try a find out the reason for these parties. As Nick makes his way through the party, the light follows him around and focus’s the attention to Nick. This may symbolize that Gatsby’s eyes are looking for Nick in his desire to get to Daisy. As Nick moves his way through the house, for the first time we see the chandelier, which is presented to be a replica of the same one inside daisy and toms house, which shows a connection and a foreshadowing of their relationship. Extreme close ups show the expression on nicks face as to why he is smiling builds up the question why he ... ... middle of paper ... ... contrasts and dark, sinister and yet mysterious aura about Gatsby through the gossip that Nick has heard about him. Gatsby is young and admirable with a smile that has “a quality of eternal reassurance in it”. Gatsby’s distinctive optimism is contagious which Nick implies throughout the film. Baz Luhrman gives great attention to details in contemporary society. Gatsby’s party provides both a description and parody of Jazz Age corruption. Though catered to by butlers and entertained by professionally trained singers, the guests are drunk, crude, and wild. The scene also reinforces Nick's position as an objective and reliable narrator: it ends with his claim that he is one of the few honest people he has ever known. Baz Luhrman has successfully displayed appropriate film techniques, through music, camera shots, lighting and particular sequences to portray key ideas.

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