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The Great Gatsby (2000)
Pathetic, absolutely pathetic
This movie actually angered me it was so amazingly horrible. Now granted I would be critical due to the fact that The Great Gatsby is my favorite book. However, I was more than willing to give it a chance. Within 15 minutes, the movie takes an amazingly over acted and over enthusiastic view of the story.
The first hour rushes through almost the entire story laid out so evenly by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The second hour is consists of more "speculation" with the storyline and includes several scenes (and additions to scenes) that would NEVER be contrived by Fitzgerald. Including a greater love between Nick and Jordan, a happier first meeting between Gatsby and Daisy, and the omission of several other little nuances that make The Great Gatsby the remarkable work of fiction that it is. There weren't even any flapper girls at any of Gatsby's parties for heaven's sake!
As for the acting, you're likely to find better actors in a weekend dinner theatre. Toby Stephens as Gatsby is more has more of a misguided frat boy persona rather than the slightly immature but calm and driven Gatsby that Fitzgerald describes in his book. Mira Sorvino's Daisy Buchanan is about as soothing as fingernails across a chalkboard. The entire movie seems forced from almost every point of view. Paul Rudd stands out as the only acceptable performance in this picture. But unfortunately, he only makes an average performance.
Overall, this version makes 1974's Redford picture seem like Citizen Kane in comparison. Watch it only for pure amusement at how bad a motion picture can be.