The Great Gatsby Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich guy throws parties and breaks laws to get his ex-girlfriend back, but then a murder happens and it’s all downhill from there.

🍿 The Great Gatsby: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Nick’s Arrival and Introduction to Gatsby’s World

The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate and World War I veteran seeking a fresh start in 1922 New York. He moves to Long Island, settling in a modest house in West Egg, next to the opulent mansion of Jay Gatsby. Nick attends a dinner at the lavish East Egg home of his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her wealthy, philandering husband, Tom. Here, he meets Jordan Baker, a cynical golfer, setting the stage for intertwined relationships and burgeoning secrets. Nick is drawn into a world of extravagant wealth and hidden discontent.

The Extravagant Parties and Gatsby’s True Intentions

Nick receives an invitation to one of Gatsby’s famous parties, an event teeming with hundreds of guests, none of whom have actually met their mysterious host. As Nick navigates the opulent scene, he finally meets Gatsby himself, a surprisingly young and reserved figure. Through Jordan, Nick learns the truth: Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy and throws these lavish parties in hopes of attracting her attention. He desires Nick’s help in orchestrating a reunion with Daisy, rekindling a romance from years past.

The Affair and Its Tragic Consequences

Nick facilitates a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy, leading to a passionate affair. Gatsby dreams of recreating the past, believing he can recapture their lost love. The complexities of their entangled lives lead to a confrontation with Tom, revealing the illicit relationship. During a heated argument, Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress, while driving Gatsby’s car. Gatsby takes the blame to protect Daisy, setting the stage for a devastating climax.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio): A mysterious millionaire, driven by his obsessive dream to recapture a lost love.
• Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan): A beautiful but shallow socialite, torn between her love for Gatsby and the security of her marriage.
• Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire): An aspiring writer and Wall Street trader who becomes entangled in the lives of Gatsby and the Buchanans as their neighbor and confidant.
• Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton): A wealthy and arrogant man, threatened by Gatsby’s pursuit of his wife and determined to maintain his social dominance.
• Jordan Baker (Elizabeth Debicki): A cynical and observant professional golfer who becomes involved with Nick and provides insight into the elite social circles.
• Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher): Tom’s lower-class mistress, seeking a more extravagant life but ultimately meeting a tragic end.
• Meyer Wolfshiem (Amitabh Bachchan): A gambler who fixed the 1919 World Series and a key connection to Gatsby’s wealth

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nick Carraway: ““Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”” – Nick’s father’s advice, setting the stage for his observations of the wealthy elite.
• Jay Gatsby: ““Can’t repeat the past? … Why of course you can!”” – Gatsby’s fervent belief in his ability to recreate his past with Daisy, encapsulating his central delusion.
• Daisy Buchanan: ““I wish I had done everything on earth with you.”” – Daisy expresses her regret to Gatsby, hinting at her internal conflict and lost opportunities.
• Nick Carraway: ““So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”” – Nick’s concluding reflection on the universal struggle to escape the past, summarizing the tragic nature of the characters’ fates.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $105,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $144,857,996
• Worldwide Gross: $353,660,028

💥 The Great Gatsby Reviews

Personal Review

I remember walking out of the theater completely swept away by the extravagance. The party scenes felt like a dream, and DiCaprio was magnetic as Gatsby. I was crying by the end; the tragedy hit hard, and I felt Gatsby’s longing so deeply. It definitely made me want to read the book again!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Baz Luhrmann’s visually distinctive style”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about the Roaring Twenties”
  • “Those who enjoy tragic romances and literary adaptations”
  • “Leonardo DiCaprio fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Infidelity”
  • “Alcohol and drug use”
  • “Violence”
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Suicide”

Professional Reviews

• Rolling Stone: “Luhrmann’s vision is bold and visually stunning, bringing the roaring twenties to life with vibrant detail and a contemporary soundtrack that surprisingly complements the story. DiCaprio delivers a captivating performance as Gatsby, capturing his charm and desperation, while Mulligan embodies Daisy’s tragic allure.
• The New York Times: “While visually impressive, Luhrmann’s ‘Gatsby’ sacrifices emotional depth for spectacle, resulting in a somewhat hollow experience. The performances are strong, but the film’s over-the-top style distracts from the novel’s poignant themes of love, loss, and the American Dream. The soundtrack feels out of place.
• Entertainment Weekly: “This adaptation is a lavish, sensory overload, with dazzling costumes and sets that transport you to the Jazz Age. DiCaprio shines as the enigmatic Gatsby, but the film’s modern soundtrack and Baz Luhrmann’s distinctive style may not appeal to all viewers, especially purists of the novel.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the lavish party scenes and the extravagant 1920s setting.: Most people agreed that Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance was a standout and perfectly captured Gatsby’s enigmatic persona.

Overall Consensus: While visually stunning and boasting strong performances, the movie divided audiences due to its modern soundtrack and Baz Luhrmann’s over-the-top style; some found it a captivating experience, while others felt it detracted from the novel’s emotional core.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Costume Design)- 2014
2. Academy Award (Best Production Design)- 2014
3. AACTA Award (Best Cinematography)- 2013
4. AACTA Award (Best Production Design)- 2013
5. AACTA Award (Best Costume Design)- 2013

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire have been friends since childhood, marking their first film together since *Don’s Plum* (2001).”
• “Director Baz Luhrmann incorporated modern music into the soundtrack to highlight the timeless themes of the novel, connecting the story to contemporary audiences.”
• “The film’s extravagant production design, particularly Gatsby’s mansion and parties, aimed to visually represent the excessive materialism of the Jazz Age.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Great Gatsby?

The 2013 version of The Great Gatsby is widely available to rent or purchase on various platforms. You can find it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD can be purchased from retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Check your local listings for television airings.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Great Gatsby, you might like these similar films:

• Moulin Rouge! (2001): Directed by Baz Luhrmann, it shares the same visually lavish style and tragic romance themes.
• A Single Man (2009): A visually stunning film exploring themes of loss, longing, and the superficiality of appearances, similar to *Gatsby*.
• Brideshead Revisited (2008): Explores themes of love, class, and the decline of an era, set against the backdrop of the British aristocracy, a thematic parallel to *Gatsby*.
• The Age of Innocence (1993): A story of forbidden love and societal constraints in a gilded age, it shares thematic similarities of impossible love and tragedy.

🛒 The Great Gatsby Related Products

• The Great Gatsby (The Collector’s Edition): A deluxe collector’s edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, featuring exclusive cover art, historical notes, and behind-the-scenes insights into the film’s production.
• Roaring 20s Flapper Dress: Channel your inner Daisy Buchanan with this stunning sequined flapper dress, inspired by the iconic fashion of the film. Available in various colors and sizes.
• The Great Gatsby Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition): The complete soundtrack of the film, featuring iconic tracks from Lana Del Rey, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and more. Includes bonus tracks and extended versions.
• The Great Gatsby Hardcover: The Great Gatsby Hardcover – Illustrated, June 27, 2023

🎧 Soundtrack

The Great Gatsby features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Young and Beautiful” – performed by Lana Del Rey
• “Crazy in Love (The Great Gatsby Trailer Remix)” – performed by Beyoncé
• “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” – performed by Fergie featuring Q-Tip and GoonRock
• “Love is Blindness” – performed by Jack White

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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