I cannot watch any movie with Leo DiCaprio in it. I enjoyed both the book and the 74 version. I especially enjoyed Redford/Gatsby being revealed as a cheap crook and con artist and getting shot dead on a stupid swimming pool float for a crime he didn’t commit. I suppose most of that comes from my loathing of Redford, but i still rewound that part several times. Dern was indeed miscast in the movie, but Waterston was great as a colorless narration device.
As far as the “Great American Novel”, I don’t think there is one.
I used to be of the same opinion. I got talked into seeing The Aviator and had to reevaluate. Catch Me If You Can was also well acted. He's been in some stinkers, too and I find his politics loathsome, but I'll also give credit where it's due, and he made a great Gatsby.