The Great Hypesby

God, aren't we just so clever with that title? 

Anyways, here at the offices (read: parent's basements) of Half and Half, we aren't exactly sure what to make of the forthcoming Baz Luhrmann version of "The Great Gatsby". There's so much going on, it's kind of overwhelming.

Yes, Prada is associated with some of the film's costuming, but not hardly has much as media would like you to believe. (Here is a great article by Clothes on Film on "Gatsby" and the difference between clothing and costume design.) The Prada designs are mostly for background extras-- there's only one specially-designed piece for Carey Mulligan-- and a lot of them are simply slightly modified runway pieces from seasons past. Plus, can't we get a little love for the men's tailoring? (Brooks Brothers, people!) There's a lot of love for a well-cut suit around these parts.

The official soundtrack information has been also been released, and it's kind of a crazy mishmash of artists: Beyonce, Jay-Z, Florence and the Machine, Jack White, Lana Del Rey, Gotye, and . . . will.i.am? ... Actually? The whole anachronistic soundtrack-thing did work amazingly well in "Moulin Rouge!", but we're not sure if it will translate here. This time around, it's not so much of a bohemian fever dream as it is a tale of decadence and excess, but some of these tracks may get the mood across (especially with some of those crazy party scenes.)

New character posters are showing up too, and dear God, they are Photoshopped to hell and back. (Or you know, maybe not. Back in the 1920's if you were young, rich, and fabulous, maybe there was also a way to get rid of every pore on your face?)

So yes, we're definitely flip-flopping on this one. May 10 will either herald the arrival of a hot mess, or a haute one.