Rendering 12: 'The Great Gatsby to open Cannes 2013'

   The article ‘The Great Gatsby to open Cannes 2013’ was published by Ben Child in The Guardian on March 12, 2013. It discusses how Baz Luhrmann's much-anticipated 3D take on The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald's romantic tale of the gilded jazz age, is to open the Cannes film festival. 

   Speaking of the film, it’s interesting to record the stars of the fourth adaptation of Fitzgerald's 1925 novel to hit the big screen, like Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role of Jay Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as his wide-eyed confidant Nick Carraway and Carey Mulligan as manipulative socialite Daisy Buchanan. And there is general feeling that just this drama will open the 66th Festival de Cannes out-of-competition on 15 May. Besides, the article takes a special view of Luhrmann’s words, as for him, as well as for those who acted in The Great Gatsby, it is a great honor to open the Cannes film festival. He also stressed that F Scott Fitzgerald wrote some of the most poignant and beautiful passages of his extraordinary novel just a short distance away at a villa outside St Raphael. 

   Analyzing the situation, it’s significant to mention what chronicles this particular film. It is about the young, midwestern Carraway's entanglements with a wealthy circle of hedonistic east coast aristocrats, including the titular Jay Gatsby, the host of wild and lavish New York parties. In spite of the fact that while not popular upon its initial publication, it’s very likely that the book went on to be recognised as one of the great American novels and a powerful celebration and indictment of the roaring twenties. 

   Giving appraisal of the director, it’s necessary to point out his career, as prior to his film the most famous adaptation was Jack Clayton's Academy award-winning 1974 version, which was scripted by Francis Ford Coppola. And now he directed this film, which actually was previously filmed in the silent era in 1926 by Herbert Brenon, a version viewed as closest to the original text. Later, in 1949, the same film directed by Elliott Nugent remains largely unseen. 

   Moreover, there are signs that The Great Gatsby will open across France on the same day it screens at Cannes, and that is due in the US on 10 May and the UK a week later. And it’s an open secret that it will be the second 3D film to open Cannes following the Pixar animation Up in 2009. 

   So the article draws the conclusion that Cannes veteran Steven Spielberg was revealed as the surprise president of the jury for this year's festival last month. Like the US film-maker, Luhrmann is a regular on the Croisette, having screened Strictly Ballroom in the Un Certain Regard section in 1992 and Moulin Rouge as the opening film of the 2001 edition. 

   As for me, I'm looking forward for the release of this film on the screens. And moreover, speaking on this film and its director, we are to take into account that Baz Luhrmann is the director of Moulin Rouge, which had a great success. So I think this particular film (The Great Gatsby) deserves such a honor.