Cannes 2013: Gatsby director hits at critics "I made Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom for that matter and I never got one of those big, high critics' scores," he said, when asked about the mediocre response. What about Fitzgerald? What about when he was writing his book? Luhrmann said, referring to the indifferent critical response to the novel when it was published in 1925. Luhrmann - who was accompanied by actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Isla Fisher - said that the European premiere would give other critics a chance to weigh in with their verdicts. "By the way, don't get the wrong idea, I love it so if you're thinking about it, go for it, don't hold back," he added. Luhrmann said he was proud American audiences had embraced the 3D, hip-hop-infused Gatsby, which took $51.1 million in its opening weekend. I just care that people are going out and seeing it. I'm really so moved by that," he said, noting that the film had held its own against action blockbusters such as Iron Man 3. That was a very nervous weekend for us, very nervous and we're very thankful to the audience, very thankful and grateful. The director also noted that the film had pushed Fitzgerald's novel to the top of the bestseller list, selling more copies in a single week than it did in the author's lifetime. When asked about working with Luhrmann, Di Caprio said the director had inspired him with his "infectious" enthusiasm, but admitted the film adaptation was a challenge. "He's not afraid to take on incredible classic stories that are in our culture, and ones that are very risky to do, a very risky undertaking," he said. The film opens the Cannes festival this evening