Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013), based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, is a visually stunning and emotionally tragic story of love, wealth, and the American Dream. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan, the film follows the events of the Roaring Twenties through the eyes of Nick, a young bond salesman who becomes fascinated by his mysterious and wealthy neighbor, Gatsby.
Plot Summary and Spoilers
The story is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, who arrives in New York in the summer of 1922. Living in a modest home in West Egg, he becomes intrigued by the lavish parties thrown by the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, a millionaire with a mysterious past. Gatsby eventually befriends Nick and reveals that he is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin, who is now married to the wealthy and arrogant Tom Buchanan.
Gatsby and Daisy were once in love, but Gatsby had to leave for war. Now, he hopes to win her back and believes that his immense wealth and grand lifestyle will be enough to rekindle their romance. With Nick’s help, Gatsby and Daisy reunite, and their affair begins. However, tensions rise when Tom learns of their relationship.
In a dramatic confrontation at the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby insists that Daisy never loved Tom, but she hesitates, torn between past and present. Enraged, Tom exposes Gatsby’s shady business dealings, shaking Daisy’s faith in him. Devastated, Gatsby and Daisy leave, but as Daisy drives Gatsby’s car, she accidentally kills Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress. Tom convinces Myrtle’s husband, George, that Gatsby is responsible, leading to a tragic conclusion.
The next day, George shoots Gatsby while he is waiting for Daisy’s call, then takes his own life. Nick, disillusioned by the corruption and shallowness of the wealthy elite, arranges Gatsby’s funeral, which hardly anyone attends. In the end, Nick leaves New York, realizing that Gatsby’s dream was unattainable—a symbol of the failed American Dream.
The film captures the glitz and tragedy of the Jazz Age, highlighting themes of love, greed, and the illusion of the past.
