Gatsby: The Motion Picture
Long before Leonardo DiCaprio--and I'm judging by memes and publicity stills, I simply don't see his films--failed to read the novel but starred as Gatsby, a dear friend and I had a conversation about a previous adaptation. This one starred Robert Redford, whom you may remember as Alexander Pierce in the Marvel universe, as Gatsby. Mia Farrow was Daisy. Etc. All in all it was a "meh" film. I mention the conversation for the last line in it. My friend said, "If there never were a novel called The Great Gatsby, I might have enjoyed this film." He doesn't ever see adaptations of books he's read or may some day read, and I can see the logic in that.
We do, however, as we read anything, make what "Simple Jack" in Tropic Thunder (an underrated comedy) calls "mind movies." I read a novel with characters and settings and plot and I see people doing things in specific places. I see everyone. I see the crowd in a crowded restaurant. If it's a fish restaurant, I smell the fish. I hear the dull murmur of conversation and center in on the table where the action is. You do, too.
Our mind movies are all we have to go by until we discuss the novel with someone else. It is interesting to ask ourselves, though, as we read, who and what we see--and why.
When it comes to Gatsby, the people aren't described as well as the settings. It's easy to transfer myself, for instance, to Nick's place--a small bungalow, almost an out building, a pool house, next to an immense mansion. It's easy to see Gatsby's mansion (even easier to see his car). It's easy to differentiate between the two mansions--and see the garage over which the Wilson's live.
The minor characters line up well for me. Jordan could be any number of athletic women, maybe Ali Krieger of the USWNT in soccer. I see someone like Jon Cusack as Nick. Maybe Bob Odenkirk as George. Daisy is compelling for her voice--maybe Nicole Kidman. I need Russell Crowe as Tom. Marion Cotillard maybe as Myrtle.
Gatsby needs to be a brooder, a many who speaks precisely, and he needs more than anything to have a winning smile. You already see where I'm going, don't you. I think they cast the wrong pretty boy in the recent film. They should have cast the one who can act: Brad Pitt.
I, of course, need these people magically to all be the same age, too.
The thing is, they can be. In the case of a number of these actors, they can even transform personal appearance and voice and just bring that one nuance I see--like Brad Pitt's smile--and help me see the novel.
This idea of visualizing speaks a lot to one of the hidden powers of literature: it is the best way, sometimes the only way, we learn how to empathize. Check out this article.
I am saddened sometimes to think that American education is going away from the study of literature and towards a greater focus on utility: reading and responding to the ideas expressed in expository texts. It seems to me we're running away from empathy at a time we most need it.
We do, however, as we read anything, make what "Simple Jack" in Tropic Thunder (an underrated comedy) calls "mind movies." I read a novel with characters and settings and plot and I see people doing things in specific places. I see everyone. I see the crowd in a crowded restaurant. If it's a fish restaurant, I smell the fish. I hear the dull murmur of conversation and center in on the table where the action is. You do, too.
Our mind movies are all we have to go by until we discuss the novel with someone else. It is interesting to ask ourselves, though, as we read, who and what we see--and why.
When it comes to Gatsby, the people aren't described as well as the settings. It's easy to transfer myself, for instance, to Nick's place--a small bungalow, almost an out building, a pool house, next to an immense mansion. It's easy to see Gatsby's mansion (even easier to see his car). It's easy to differentiate between the two mansions--and see the garage over which the Wilson's live.
The minor characters line up well for me. Jordan could be any number of athletic women, maybe Ali Krieger of the USWNT in soccer. I see someone like Jon Cusack as Nick. Maybe Bob Odenkirk as George. Daisy is compelling for her voice--maybe Nicole Kidman. I need Russell Crowe as Tom. Marion Cotillard maybe as Myrtle.
Gatsby needs to be a brooder, a many who speaks precisely, and he needs more than anything to have a winning smile. You already see where I'm going, don't you. I think they cast the wrong pretty boy in the recent film. They should have cast the one who can act: Brad Pitt.
I, of course, need these people magically to all be the same age, too.
The thing is, they can be. In the case of a number of these actors, they can even transform personal appearance and voice and just bring that one nuance I see--like Brad Pitt's smile--and help me see the novel.
This idea of visualizing speaks a lot to one of the hidden powers of literature: it is the best way, sometimes the only way, we learn how to empathize. Check out this article.
I am saddened sometimes to think that American education is going away from the study of literature and towards a greater focus on utility: reading and responding to the ideas expressed in expository texts. It seems to me we're running away from empathy at a time we most need it.
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