The best Great Gatsby adaptation according to Rotten Tomatoes

The debate about what constitutes The Great American Novel is never-ending, but F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby always finds its way into that discussion. It may be tempting to simply reduce the author’s work to an enduring depiction of the Roaring Twenties, but Fitzgerald’s book also breaks through the illusions while maintaining the captivating mystery that surrounds its title character. Once the fog clears and both Jay Gatsby and his (only) friend Nick Carraway are revealed for who they are, a deep feeling of emptiness is left behind. Don’t get me wrong: “The Great Gatsby” is a story around the inherent hollowness of the spectacle, obscene wealth and relationships of convenience that have the illusion of depth. However, once we grapple with the rare flashes of moving sincerity in such a hauntingly tragic story, the empty allure of the green light at the heart of the novel takes on a terribly haunting sheen.

Surely such a complex, popular book has spawned at least one film adaptation that comes close to its elusive essence… right? Well, there are no easy answers, as some cinematic interpretations of The Great Gatsby are actually worthwhile despite their inherent flaws. The The most recent (and most popular) version is Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, which has been criticized for getting lost in the loud hedonism it is intended to criticize, leaving little room for subtlety. I would say so Luhrmann creates enough space for tense, inner momentsespecially as he explores the crumbling myth of Gatsby as he stands on the verge of losing everything. However, the film doesn’t come close to living up to the complexity of its source material, although it never pretends to be something it isn’t.

If we look at Rotten Tomatoes as the benchmark for determining the best Gatsby adaptation, then The Great Gatsby from 1926 is the winner with a score of 52%. Yes, that’s the highest total to date, and every other direct film adaptation of the novel – as opposed to loosely inspired ones – has a “bad” score on the platform.

Before we talk about the 1926 version, let’s talk about another one famous “Great Gatsby” adaptation released in 1974 starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow takes on the respective roles of Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Director Jack Clayton remained faithful to Fitzgerald’s novel (too loyal to the point of monotony) and brings unforgettable excerpts to life through committed performances and lively furnishings. Yet despite these sincere efforts, which included a competent screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola, the film fails to capture the hypnotic allure of the themes that continue to captivate us, resulting in an adaptation that never dares to find your own stand.

When we look back at Herbert Brenon’s 1926 silent drama (Peter Pan, Neptune’s Daughter), we should definitely acknowledge this how much it deviates from the original novel. Although it is a direct (and seemingly first) film adaptation of the novel, it changes important aspects of the main characters, including Daisy’s (Lois Wilson) motivations for rejecting Gatsby (Warner Baxter) and the underlying circumstances surrounding the fatal car accident End. However, the basic tenets of the story remain intact, with young Nick Carraway (Neil Hamilton) gradually recognizing Gatsby for what he really is, while also recognizing the Buchanans’ callous cruelty and hypocrisy. However, in a rather strange departure from the novel, the film ends with an idyllic shot of the Buchanans and their newborn, with no lingering references to the tragedy to which they directly contributed (or to the man at the center).

The reason Brenon’s film is rarely mentioned in conversations about Gatsby is because it is now considered lost media, with only the trailer and a few short clips from the film available for viewing. It’s also worth noting that Fitzgerald detested this adaptation. descriptive described it as “rotten and terrible and terrible,” although he didn’t elaborate Why. If your search for a viable Great Gatsby film adaptation remains unsatisfactory, you can always give Robert Markowitz’s 2000 version a fair chance. It may not be much, but the film stars Paul Rudd in an impressive role as Carraway, which is perhaps the film’s only redeemable quality.