All you need to know is that it omits both the "beautiful little fool" scene and the "beautiful shirts" scene. It's even less energetic than the Redford.
There are also numerous clues that the production cut corners. OK, television doesn't have the same budget as film, but this is Gatsby. There's got to be blatant displays of wealth.
The book takes place during a sweltering summer, yet when Nick walks over to Gatsby's there are yellow and orange leaves on the ground. Fail! All the men's bowties are pre-tied. Fail! There appear to be about 20 people attending Gatsby's legendary parties. Fail! The mint juleps look like liquid green jello and were served in martini glasses rather than pewter or silver Jefferson cups. Fail! In the library scene, Owl Eyes makes a point of showing that "the books are real" by taking one out and thumbing through the pages, while the book explicitly states that one could tell Gatsby hadn't read any of his books because the pages hadn't been cut. Fail!
Of the cast I thought Martin Donovan did a decent job as Tom. Rudd is a dud as Nick. I normally love Mira Sorvino but she brings nothing to Daisy - partly the fault of the hatchet taken to the book by the screenwriter but still her delivery sounds like a rehearsal. Stephens's Gatsby is more of a cad, but there's neither mystery nor yearning in his portrayal.
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brockmeeks
10 years ago
^All of this.
I wouldn't even waste my time with this one. They went really cheap on EVERYTHING.
He literally just opens his wardrobe and stands next to the shirts.
My favorite fail from the movie was Gatsbys lonely party. There were about 15-20 people there... "The man with her is her director!" *cheesy grin*
If you're a fan of the book, stick with the two so-so film versions because this one is beyond a disappointment.
The cast leaves something to be desired as well.
Tom is portrayed as deppressed.
The girl playing Myrtle is truly awful.
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