tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post4323790462154935848..comments2024-03-26T05:01:57.793-07:00Comments on DREAMS ARE WHAT LE CINEMA IS FOR...: HISTORY REPEATING? THE GREAT GATSBY 1974 / 2013Ken Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-35507038504736466062013-07-15T17:14:29.504-07:002013-07-15T17:14:29.504-07:00I'm with you on that one, Cathy. Small films n...I'm with you on that one, Cathy. Small films need support. Thanks to YOU for fighting the good fight and not succumbing to the standard Hollywood formula stuff we're being fed so continuously.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-9850690548818397502013-07-15T17:12:43.937-07:002013-07-15T17:12:43.937-07:00I agree. It's hard to tell if Redford had much...I agree. It's hard to tell if Redford had much of a grasp on the character. He pretty much let his movie star persona do the acting. I haven't seen the new film yet, but DiCaprio is a favorite and I've no doubt he's a big improvement. Thanks very much for commenting!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-16856076418541173792013-07-15T16:35:13.633-07:002013-07-15T16:35:13.633-07:00I'm a big fan of both Robert Redford and Leona...I'm a big fan of both Robert Redford and Leonardo DiCaprio. But when it comes to the character of Jay Gatsby, DiCaprio wins, as far as I'm concerned. Aside from two or three scenes, I got the impression that Redford was basically phoning it in. The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-19196862507939214672013-05-09T11:14:13.749-07:002013-05-09T11:14:13.749-07:00I have to keep spending money on the "small&q...I have to keep spending money on the "small" movies in hope that they produce. Hollywood needs to realize that we're tired of formula. Comic books come to life and even worse, the obligatory loves scenes and special effects. I want a story line. I crave great writing.<br /><br />Ken, thanks for publishing for us.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-16762386442377526422013-05-09T04:22:15.624-07:002013-05-09T04:22:15.624-07:00So true what you say in your comment about super h...So true what you say in your comment about super hero movies: "That's corporate business, not filmmaking"! <br />"The ADHD set" ?!?!? Hahahaha!!!!<br />-WilleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-84514312458035927502013-05-09T03:18:07.380-07:002013-05-09T03:18:07.380-07:00Hi Cathy
To paraphrase an old adage, I guess each ...Hi Cathy<br />To paraphrase an old adage, I guess each generation gets the "Gatsby" it deserves. The ADHD set may relate to all the bells and whistles set to a Jay Z soundtrack, but I might be too old to enjoy a 3D Gatsby. (Honestly, when I first heard about "The Great Gatsby" in 3D, I thought it was one of those fake headlines from The Onion.)<br />Your impressions of the 1974 film are on par with what my father thought about it. He found it deeply depressing experience and therefore a rather profound evisceration of the lie of The American Dream. I like how you describe it and what it felt like for you. I'm happy to hear it made you feel something. It didn't try to numb your senses through endless, distancing CGI, swirling cameras, and blaring sound.<br /><br />I also agree with you that the only genius left in Hollywood seems to be of the technical variety. That's the only place you'll find anything new being attempted. All else is a search for a "formula" that will produce a moneymaking franchise. I read today that there are to be a whole slew of Marvel comics movies made over the next few years. HELP!. That's corporate business, not filmmaking).<br />Your analogy about the singer is quite apt, too. Looking on YouTube, you can see folks like Sinatra, Garland, and Streisand commanding a stage just by being GOOD! No light shows, pyrotechnics and dry ice. <br />By the way, I love when people have strong opinions about film. It shows they care. thanks so much for commenting!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-76882668956747728862013-05-09T01:55:11.468-07:002013-05-09T01:55:11.468-07:00I just can’t watch the new version. My niece says...I just can’t watch the new version. My niece says that Leonardo is one of the great actors of her generation. While that might be true, when I watch him there is no depth and Gatsby had depth. There was something there with Redford, he was unapproachable to all accept Mia. It was only then that we saw the vulnerability. <br /><br />The Redford Gatsby didn’t need 3D and a rewrite. They say that this version is darker, but I came away from the Redford version depressed by them all. I couldn’t find a single redeeming quality among any of the characters. So to see it with an actor who I feel is lacking and supported by special effects has firmed my decision not to try the latest version.<br /><br />“Remakes are a curious and inextricable part of the Hollywood moviemaking machine.” Never a truer statement made. But I think it has everything to do with the lack of any real genius left in Hollywood. The only things new are special effects and this is what the new Gatsby promises to offer. It’s like a great singer, if you are listening to one, they command the stage. If you have a half-assed one, they hop all over the place in an attempt to distract.<br /><br />No Ken, I have no strong opinions. Cathynoreply@blogger.com