September 17th: The Day Baz was Born

Luhrmann's newest project: The Great Gatsby
due to release May 2013

This year on September 17th, the flamboyant director, producer and screenwriter of creative film Baz Luhrmann turned 50 years old. Born in 1962, the Australian movie-maker was originally named Mark Anthony Luhrmann, however he was apparently nicknamed "Baz" from his likeness of character to the puppet Basil Brush (!). Having produced successful, attention-grabbing yet controversial films such as William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Australia; Baz has certainly established his own style and identity within the industry. 
   As a director, Luhrmann seems to embrace the bohemian, vibrant and passionate love as his principal themes when telling a story. Take Moulin Rouge for example. The film is an explosion of colour, emotion, music, dance, love and a moralistic ending of 'the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return'. The passion continues to tug on the audience's heartstrings as we move on to Romeo and Juliet: the tragic tale of 'a pair of star cross'd lovers' who meet their fate between family rivalry and inevitable misunderstanding. Baz's modern spin on Shakespeare's masterpiece defines the "Marmite Effect" of opinion. Either Billy Shakespeare was actually spinning in his grave on the premiere night of Luhrmann's production, or viewers warmed to the familiarity of the present-day setting against the well-preserved Elizabethan language. Personally, I loved the exchange of swords for guns, horses for limousines, and the iconic fish-tank love scene.
   I think this love-it-or-hate-it attitude seems to apply to Luhrmann's work extremely well, as the stimulating content of the movies he produces is sometimes a little much for audiences. However, his most recent 2008 film Australia takes him back to his roots, using actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman who were born and raised down under. This film appeared to have calmed Luhrmann's creativity slightly, going for more of an epic adventure type approach. Nevertheless, I predict Baz will strike back to his own ways next summer, on the release of his take on The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1920s novel will be brought to the screen once again, but if Luhrmann's previous adaptations are anything to go by, it will be like nothing else! For starters, the trailer features Jay Z & Kanye West's song No Church in the Wild, which I think translates the glitz and glamour of the 20s to the modern era. Do you think Luhrmann can pull it off? Are you a fan of his work or not?