It is the era when excess is the word of the time. Whether it be women, alcohol, music or the sharemarket, it is all about living life to its fullest in the post-World War environment.
Carraway discovers he is living next door to the mysterious yet infamous Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and witnesses the indulgent parties he holds every week.
Befriended by Gatsby, Carraway finds he is drawn into his world.
But it is Carraway's cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) who Gatsby is interested in and he hopes his new neighbour will be his conduit to the beautiful young woman.
Five years earlier, Gatsby had met and fallen in love with Daisy but he had no means to support her so headed off to find his fortune.
Now he wants his Daisy back despite the fact she is married to the philandering Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton).
The path to his true love is not going to be easy even with the lavish indulgences of his life thrown at her.
Daisy is asked to find the courage to leave her husband and the life he has created for her.
Gatsby's great plan to woo Daisy looks to be succeeding until fate threatens their freedom and his life and secrets start to unravel.
The Great Gatsby is big-budget escapism. It is a visually striking journey into another world of another time.
The Great Gatsby
(M) 142 minutes
Rating: 3.5 / 5
