The Great Gatsby in Five Minutes

Synopsis

"The Great Gatsby in Five Minutes" (2011), directed by James Benning, is a highly experimental short film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel. Instead of a traditional narrative, the film condenses the entire story into a rapid, five-minute visual and textual montage. Benning strips down the complex tale of wealth, love, and the American Dream to its barest elements through minimalistic yet evocative imagery and on-screen text. This avant-garde approach invites viewers to experience "The Great Gatsby" in a completely new and abstract way, focusing more on atmosphere and thematic essence than character development or plot detail, offering a meditative reflection on the source material.

Cast

• 

  James Benning

  Owl Eyes

• 

  Dileep Rao

  Nick Carraway

• 

  Gabriella Rhodeen

  Daisy Buchanan

• Kristin Malko

  Jordan Baker

• 

  Andrew Wilson

  Tom Buchanan

• 

  Jay Hernandez

  Jay Gatsby

Reviews

Reviews of "The Great Gatsby in Five Minutes" have been mixed, reflecting its niche appeal and unconventional style. On IMDb, the film holds a rating of 6.5/10, indicating a moderate reception from general audiences. Critics appreciate director James Benning's minimalist and experimental approach, highlighting how the film challenges traditional storytelling norms. Film Threat praised the work as "an intriguing, if perplexing, cinematic experiment" that compresses the narrative in an innovative fashion. However, some viewers find the rapid pacing and lack of conventional plot development difficult to engage with. Rotten Tomatoes does not have a rating for this film due to its avant-garde nature and limited release, which is common with experimental shorts. Metacritic also lacks aggregated reviews. Overall, the film is acknowledged for its artistic ambition, yet it may only appeal to those with interest in experimental cinema or an academic approach to adapting literary classics.