Gatsby Character Profile: Because I Have a Microphone So You Will Listen To Everything I Have To Say

New feature, for as long as it lasts or as long as I care.  Whatever comes first.  Betting booths are now open.
As many of you may know, Australian director Baz Luhrmann will take a shot at the fourth (or fifth, depending on if you count lost films or count a straight to video release*) attempt at a movie of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Why have so many people attempted to make this book into a film, and why is no one content with the prior installments?  In short, the book touches on a lot of varying emotions while allowing the reader to partially identify with the narrator (Nick Carraway) because he just does not have a lot going on for him except his interactions with all of the characters to some extent.  It is a popular American novel, and loved by millions through many generations due to some sort of 'timeless' nature the book captures, and partying, lots and lots of partying.  Combined with the fact that everyone has an imagination of some sort, then BAM, you have got about a million different stage shows and film versions/parodies because everyone takes a different lesson from the book.  That's the short version.

What this feature intends to do is look at the cast (the seven most popular characters) of Luhrmann's upcoming film set to begin production sometime this year.  I will break down his choices and see if they are acceptable, because what I say matters in my mind.  Also, because Luhrmann dips into the vast talent pool of Australia, leading one to believe that he thinks that Americans had their chance and failed.  I will address this is once it occurs.  First up, Nick Carraway, the story's disconnected narrator and the semi-omniscient 'I' voice because Fitzgerald said so.

Go ahead and be borne back ceaselessly into the jump.

Nick Carraway 

Character Analysis:

Acting as the narrator, the reader follows his burgeoning life as a bondsmen from the Midwest transplanted into the heart of turmoil in New York and its suburbs.  All characters speak to him, as this is how the reader learns anything and everything they need to know about everyone.  Has a side love affair, but his focus always turns to what his lively, rich neighbor Jay Gatsby is doing.

Luhrmann's Nick: Tobey Maguire

Past Nicks: MacDonald Carey, Sam Waterston, Paul Rudd

I have resigned myself to the fact that Peter Parker will be the next Nick Carraway, and you know what, it’s a twelve-step process.  I’m in the coping stages.  His role requires him to live through the entire film, but does not require him to stand out or need to act much.  In fact, Waterston does just fine standing wide-eyed and not saying anything while action happens around him.  Basically, the movie-goer will use Nick as a vehicle to get all of the information needed to understand the story.  All characters open up to him and pour all of their inner most feelings into his impassive head.  My concern is that Luhrmann will overuse him since he is THE Tobey Maguire, and that is just not necessary.  But can you blame him, I mean, he was Spiderman....

Pros:  American actor, has the stage presence to drift into the background of a film and not dominate, a little older than Carraway at the time of the novel but can play younger

Cons: DULL, DULL, DULL, not a good overall actor in my opinion, can he drive the storyline through narration?

MacDonald Carey works in the 1949 version because he was not well known at the time of the film, therefore drifted into the background.  Also, the screenplay takes much of the focus off of him and only uses him for the character’s most basic need; as a conduit between all of the characters.  Waterston and Rudd have more of a role, and at times the film wanted to focus on his subordinate storyline.  But, they are solid, stepping out of the spotlight and allowing the other actors to take over the 'action' scenes.  So, how will Maguire do?  It may be more than obvious that my favorite character is Nick, so, may God help me if I hear his voice in my head the next time I read the book.




*for the sake of this feature, we will look at the 1949 black and white, 1974 feature length, and 2001 straight to video versions.