To paraphrase a musty, old, dully two-dimensional book, the best thing a movie can be in this world is a beautiful little fool—particularly when that movie has been bumped from its prestigious December release to hobnob with the good-time Charlies of the summer. And from the look of this trailer, Baz Luhrmann's retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby has all the makings of a pretty, dizzy socialite capable of casting off dull reflection and just doing the Charleston. The director's sense of spectacle rivals Jay Gatsby's own in its opulence: Here Luhrmann throws a massive, Watch The Throne-soundtracked party full of fast cars, beautiful women, sparkling jewels, neon marquees, zebra-filled swimming pools, and a green light with its allure turned up to 11—all presented in a 3-D that promises to pop eyeballs like champagne corks.
It's a lot of metaphorical and literal fireworks surrounding some equally heightened performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan et al., and doubtless there are some who will wonder if, like Gatsby's parties, all of Luhrmann's lavishness isn't just a front for the film's own sad emptiness. But then, to borrow another quote, reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope. And wait until you see how infinite that hope looks in 3-D.