australia? really?

When my good friends at East Egg Realty notified me that Baz Luhrmann would be re-making the Francis Ford Coppola film classic of F. Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby, I was both ecstatic and saddened.  Ecstatic that Leonardo DiCaprio would be reprising Robert Redford's memorable 1974 portrayal of Jay Gatsby, alongside Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway and Carey Mulligan as shallow Daisy Buchanan. (Mulligan is said to have beat out actresses Keira Knightley, Blake Lively and Scarlett Johansson for the coveted role.) But, deeply disturbed by the fact that Luhrmann would be filming in Australia (and in 3D no less).  Forget the fact that Australia will be benefiting from the estimated $120 million influx of filming related income; but, Australia, really?  It is true that the 1974 film classic was filmed using The Rosecliff and Marble House mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, as Gatsby's house, and scenes at the Buchanan's home filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. One driving scene was shot in Windsor Great Park, UK. Other scenes were filmed in New York City, and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. But, I have to wonder, where did the bureaucracy of New York state fail in it's efforts to bring Luhrmann and his wife to NY to film?  It was in the running according to rumors that surround the film's production. What happened? All in all, I'm not sure if I'll be able to watch the film without missing the true gold coast images or beauty of the Long Island Sound that Fitzgerald had in mind.  But, there is no question I will enjoy the beauty of Dicaprio, Mulligan, and Maguire.  For some really cool trivia about the other versions of the film classic, please visit Wikipedia.  Enjoy!

images via http://www.imdb.com/

images via http://www.newportmansions.org/