At what point can we start calling Baz Luhrmann a troll instead of a filmmaker? If Australia – the flabby apotheosis of a supposedly beloved country – doesn’t count, then maybe having Jay-Z score an adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” does.
According to collaborator The Bullitts’ twitter feed (via HitFix), “Jay-Z and myself have been working tirelessly on the score for the upcoming #CLASSIC The Great Gatsby! It is too DOPE for words!”
Look. There’s nothing wrong with Jay-Z scoring, and there’s nothing wrong with tossing in some music that’s completely wrong for the time period you’re playing in. It’s a pattern with Luhrmann. A schtick, really. But even after loving the creative mix tape that was Moulin Rouge!, there’s something that just feels off about this. Maybe because it feels like it’s all he can do, that even with a novel everyone pretends to like in high school as his subject matter, he can’t help but apply his lavish formula to it.
Or maybe it will be too dope for words. Jay-Z is an incredible songwriter, and The Bullitts is no slouch when it comes to producing. No doubt they’ll come up with a solid, driving set of original music for the film. With any other film, this news would be reason to celebrate, so why does this announcement feel so eye roll-worthy? Am I alone on this?
