Friday, December 9, 2011

Great Gatsby: Great Scott or Hot Mess?

Riding on the coat-tails of some discussions I've been engaging in on other social networking sites, I thought I would share some more stills that have emerged depicting the costumes for the upcoming Baz Lurhmann Great Gatsby movie.  My thought (without having seen the movie, of course) is that, at least sartorially speaking, Lurhmann seems to be more interesting in using the 1974 Mia Farrow-Robert Redford film as the "primary" source he is adapting for 2012 audiences, rather than offering a direct translation of the original Fitzgerald novel into a film.   This seems particularly evident when one compares Carey Mulligan's lavender ensemble with one worn by Mia Farrow (and of course Mulligan's hairstyle has often been compared to Farrow's [but in other films]).



Similar echoes of the '74 film are apparent when comparing DiCaprio's get-up with Redford's





Now, as for which era/text they are channelling with Tobey Macguire (as Nick Carraway, at right in second image, in a mishmashed sweater look) or Isla Fischer (as Myrtle, directly above), I have NO idea.  To be blunt, both looks seem a mess to me, and, on the whole, I find myself wishing the costumes had a more straightforward 1920s aesthetic.  What do you think?



32 comments:

faith said...

Isla Fisher looks like a hooker from the 60s. Oh dear.

Pandora said...

Oh god, I do agree. I do hope the finished product is better than this. I had really hih hopes for this movie.

Salsa Von Leopard said...

They certainly have Isla Fisher very wrong, shockinlgy horrible infact. Definately the wrong look and i also do hope it will be better than these costumes.

Casey Maura said...

As I've been seeing snippets of this all over, I can't help but keep thinking "this looks like a modern take on the 20s--too shiny, too bright! I want the *real* 20s!". It reminds me of what movies like Moulin Rouge did: update the look of an era to fit the theatrical feel of the film. Not my cup of tea.

Harlow Darling said...

Ahh, soon as I heard Lurhmann was making Gatsby I died a little...and even seethe with rage now when I think of it.
For starters, I think they got the casting SO wrong. If I was doing the casting, it would be Boardwalk Empire's Michael Pitt as Jay and Mad Men's January Jones as Daisy. I don't feel Carey Mulligan could ever embody Daisy as a character, EVER! Leo on the other hand is far too old for the role of Jay - what were they thinking? Looking at Nick's outfit in that still, it looks like a ghastly return of "Revenge of the Nerds', yikes!
Also, what is going on with Carey's hair? It just looks awful, just like that purple frock, the dress looks hot off a contemporary cat walk. The whole thing looks like such a train wreck, but I feel that with the director and cast the film has been doomed from the start. Martin Scorsese should have directed this film, if anyone, not that it needed re-making.

Miss Matilda said...

I shall be giving this a wide berth I am afraid.

Q's Daydream said...

I agree, it's like a futuristic 1920's. I'm thinking it probably has something to do with the movie being filmed in 3D... but who knows. I'm so sooooo excited to see it anyway! :D

Ruby Macabre said...

Oh no! Was the costume designer M.I.A? I do agree that this looks like 21st century doing 70's doing 20's...

Mim said...

That is one wrong-looking Myrtle. Socks wrong, boobs wrong, hair wrong... wroangalongadingdong, as a workmate of mine would say. I love the 1974 version, but I don't want another version of that, I want another version of the book!

superheidi said...

Thank you, I'll stick with the book.

Kate said...

Yikes! I was hoping the movie might not be too bad, but based on those pictures it's not looking good...

Sydney B. said...

Hmmm... interesting. I agree, there are so many more beautiful costumes to choose from the 1920s era, it seems they should have experimented and been a bit more creative with that, especially with such a big name film. He's definitely not as picky as Scorsese is-obviously!

~Syd

Miss Marie said...

The boys don't look to bad to me. And the book specifically describes Gatsby's gold tie, silver shirt and white suit, so there's nothing wrong with that being the same as the 1970s film! In fact, that attire is quite significant to his character.

Daisy in lilac seems familiar but I would have to pull out my book to find if there's an actual reference. It does seem like it's very much aping the 1970s film in style though...

As to Mertyl... well, I always found her grotesque so in that respect, her outfit is fitting! But I also have to agree with the 1960s prostitute comment!

Miss Marie said...

Okay, so Daisy is in a "three-cornered lavender hat" on the occasion where Gatsby's in his gold tie and silver shirt. So I think we can forgive the colour scheme as she's definitely the type who would match her hat to her dress. BUT why is the hat not three-cornered then?? And it still doesn't explain Myrtle! I think a "proceed with caution" label is definitely advisable for this film!

BaronessVonVintage said...

Love your thoughts, gals!!

Miss Marie: thanks for checking re: the book and its reference to Daisy's lavender hat. For me, it seems the colour schemes of the men's and women's wear is on point with the novel, but it's the STYLE and cut of the garments (men's and women's) that seem OFF if this is supposed to be a straightforwardly 1920s setting! Quincy might be onto something re: the costumes perhaps having to look a certain way for the 3D technology??

Miss Marie said...

I don't think Baz Luhrmann does anything straightforwardly period! He has to bring it into a modern context and amp it up in some way. This is why my immediate reaction to hearing he was doing Gatsby was horror!

So the hyper, modern costumes are no surprise to me, but let's see if they keep the essence of the characters on the screen...

Patricia Lynn said...

Yes, too much boob for me.

Caroline said...

So disappointing! I love 20s fashion and I hate it when movies misrepresent eras (or books)! The result is lots of people not really understanding the starting point. I was excited but now I'm just scared! )-:

Miss Emmi said...

Some of these don't look like stills from the film (you can see a lot of tech people around) so maybe if we are lucky they are walking between trailers to get styled more! Isla Fischer looks so wrong that I am praying that's the case - weren't stiletto heels only invented in the 50s anyway? Blagh!

Anonymous said...

I get the Nick Caraway look--their definitely going for a college look. Mrytle, however, looks like she's out of the 1960s/70s. I also get Gatsby in white--that's just very "1920 man of leisure"/lawn suits. And the lavender get up is lovely, but perhaps a bit derivitive.

KittyMeow said...

Oh dear, poor Miss Fisher - That's a dreadful mish-mash of eras there. *yick*

As for Baz - well, he's pretty OTT isn't he.

There I was thinking Ryan Gosling was in this and that's all I'd be watching it for...but a quick check on IMDB shows he's actually going to be in a flick called Gangster Squad - Think that will be my preference for hot guys in vintage styling ;-P

Anonymous said...

Wow, I was so excited for this movie and now that I see some of the costumes I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong, I love Baz Luhrmann's films and aesthetic, but since this is an era near and dear to my heart, I'm a little disappointed. It's definitely a mish-mash of periods and unfortunately, it doesn't look particularly well done :(

garofit said...

I am hugely disappointed...as if the 70's version was not bad enough!

Bruce Partington-Plans said...

I agree with those who have pointed to Luhrmann's penchant for modernising or over-exaggerating things and I'm afraid that's what may be happening here.

From a chap's point of view, Harlow Darling's "Revenge of the Geeks" comment is spot on for Tobey MacGuire/Nick Carraway - college look maybe, but not 1920s college look. Those trousers look like something my 16-year-old emo cousin would wear! And are those boots he's wearing? Don't even get me started on the bow tie! As for Leo - mmmmnn, well, OK I suppose. He's missing some nice touches that were in Redford's suit - particularly turn-ups - but in some respects, tie and cane for example, it's not too bad.

Erm, can't really pass judgement on the girls - apart from Isla Fisher as Myrtle. OH DEAR.

art deco dame said...

I don't really know how to feel about this but yes I'd have to say it feels off.

Arthurs Enkelin said...

I believe Ralph Lauren was involved with some of the costuming in the original 70s movie. He does have a handle on period looks - if you think about many of his collections.

LollyWillowes said...

Eeew, nasty! "Mess", is being polite.

BaronessVonVintage said...

Thanks again for your thoughts on these looks, everyone.

I suppose we should reopen this engaging discussion once we've seen exactly what Luhrmann's final vision is? If it is meant to be straightforwardly 20s, then as Bruce and others have pointed out, there is much amiss. If something else is afoot, I shall be ready to eat my words. STILL, I'm with garofit and those of you longing for a Gatsby film served straight up--but maybe that's the literary and fashion history purist in me peeking out right now :)

BaronessVonVintage said...

Harlowdarling: BRILLIANT casting suggestion re: Michael Pitt...AND I completely agree about a secret longing for Scorsese to have taken this project (though I ADORED some of Luhrmann's other films in their own right).

BaronessVonVintage said...

Mim: wroangalongadingdong = LOVE it. Might have to steal that phrase! :)

Lauren Hairston said...

Hmmm...Isla Fisher looks like an escaped extra from Irma La Douce.

I'm a HUGE fan of Strictly Ballroom, but I have had mixed feelings about Baz Luhrmann's other films. I might watch this when it comes out on DVD. Maybe.

esme and the laneway said...

I am so curious about this film and can't wait to see more. I saw the 1974 one years ago, and I remember liking the visuals but can't remember the details of the costumes from an era specific point of view - I just thought it looked nice!
But what is going on with that last pic?! I like the idea of vintage inspired-but-not-era-accurate costumes sometimes, as that could be really creative, but I don't think that makes it a good idea in reality! And I would personally prefer era accurate costuming for this film...