proximoception: (Default)
proximoception ([personal profile] proximoception) wrote2013-11-15 10:07 pm

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Chapter 1 of Gatsby:

Magnificent!

Made me think of Calvino on lightness, in Six Memos, except here it's in counterpoint, is restlessness. The bit about personality being an unbroken series of gestures sets us up for both the serial gesturing and deflationary breaks of the household's denizens. These people aren't person enough - though Nick doesn't yet know that about Jordan.

I never saw much of the '70s movie but Bruce Dern was clearly the perfect choice for Tom.

Yes, that disappearing roommate (whose idea it was to move out to the Island) is suspicious, and the fact that Tom hasn't heard of Nick's bond firm.

Still no idea how one would describe the style. It's not exactly transparent, but strangely modest, as though caring only for the effects created, not to be credited with creating them. A man darting in past you, leaning away so as to just manage to avoid touching you, in order to adjust a floral arrangement he'd noticed you notice?

I wonder how much the charisma of Gatsby relies on something similar we feel about Fitzgerald-as-author. I've never much cared about the man, but the drive-to-craft here is entirely admirable.

[identity profile] grashupfer.livejournal.com 2013-11-16 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Casting Tom is tough. I feel like the actor should have huge shoulders. Bruce Dern has something key about him though. For a long time I was interested in Fitzgerald the man but then I got a whole lot more interested in Zelda and my feelings got complicated.

[identity profile] karinmollberg.livejournal.com 2013-11-23 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Agreed, on both shoulders and Zelda.