Wow, that trailer is... busy. He's got a distinctive aesthetic, to be sure, but I generally find Baz Luhrman's work exhausting to partake in. Which is too bad because I really like that cast, but I worry it's gonna be buried under all that glitter.

Carey Mulligan as Daisy is an interesting choice. She's got a certain soulfulness which goes counter to my idea of Daisy, who in my head is beautiful but callous and superficial.

I thought for a moment that Carey Mulligan was Michelle Williams. I also quite dislike Tobey MacGuire, but I am sure he can give great Nick Carraway.

in my head is beautiful but callous and superficial.

yes. I thought Mia Farrow was excellent in the "original."

Amy, when you get a chance, you should try Strictly Ballroom. It's incredibly sweet, and I think you'd like it.

New steps! New steps!

it is an excellent movie. seriously. I watch it all the fucking time. I fell in love with it the first time I watched it.

The commentary track is a trip and a half.

Oh, Strictly Ballroom is fabulous. And the setting of ballroom dance competition is a great setting for some zany costuming and hairstyles and set dressing, but I think is probably the most normal and real of his films (maybe barring R+J). Tara Morrice as Fran is fierce and wonderful, and Paul Mercurio is delicious. And there's certain scenes that are so powerful the way it uses sound and rhythm. From Fran interupting Scott trying to work out a dance number (the quiet swish of fabric and counting steps and footsteps) to Scott being introduced to dance at Fran's family's place, with the heartbeat and the train. The juxtaposition of the rooftop dance with the secret studio session below, the achy behind-the-curtains dance, the hot sexy way Scott slides up to Fran in the competition, the joyous final dance . . . Love that film so much. I could go on, but then I'd really be spoiling it.

It's offbeat and wacky and outrageous and gorgeous and heartfelt.

I should watch it -- it sounds great. Somehow I just missed it.

It's definitely the most accessibly sincere of his movies that I've seen. It's not like you have to get on board with dramatic stylistic choices, or anything. It's all really *right there*.

I'm watching YT clips, and am just about balling (and laughing) at the ending of Strictly Ballroom. The emotion evoked in the silence and sound and eye contact and side characters, gah! So good!!!

I've basically been horrifically disappointed in Baz since this movie. So that's been, like, the rest of his career.