Movies: The Wolf Of Wall Street

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - Wall Street is a place where fortunes can be made in no time. No wonder that the financial center attracts all kind of gamblers, high rollers and crooks. There might be just one place which could match Wall Street: Hollywood. No wonder that Tinseltown is obsessed with Wall Street and produces a lot of films about the new Babylon.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" is based on the memoirs of the New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort, who received a long prison sentence because of securities fraud, stock manipulation and money laundering (imdb). The film focuses on his "hedonistic life throughout the ’80s and ’90s, consistently indulging in women, drugs and alcohol"  (wegotthiscovered)

It seems that director Martin Scorsese, one of Hollywood`s godfathers, and his superb ensemble had a lot of fun while shooting the "Wolf". The film doesn´t waste much time on the complex financial implications, instead the flick looks like a huge party with a big hangover or a "Kindergeburtstag", which is when rich parents give a birthday party for their spoiled kids, with clowns, silly games and plenty of popcorn, marshmallows and other food.  Wolf translates it into the world of adults with pussies, coke and booze.

"Wolf" is hilarious, flamboyant and way better and more believable than "The Great Gatsby", which was another glimpse into the world of the super rich. There is just one downer: The producers cut some sex scenes to avoid a NC-17 rating (no admission for persons below the age of 17  wegotthiscovered). Now the film has a R rating which allows Americans to bring their children with them to the show. Maybe the difference attracts a bigger audience?

It seems that Leonardo DiCaprio was born for the role of stock broker Belfort. The actor had shown before, that he is the perfect cast for the hedonistic charmer with the f…k the world attitude ("Catch me if you  can", "The Great Gatsby"). As the seductive financial Wolf he reached another peak of his career.

Margot Robbie is not just eye candy she also shows how bitter it could be to be the wife of such a dazzling seducer.
The comedian Jonah Hill as Belfort´s partner in financial crime is a power house of goofiness and gives the movie a lot of speed.
 Matthew McConaughey, in a short appearance as an elder finance man, delivered an adequate frame for the Wall Street spectacle.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" delivers 178 minutes full of fun, spiced with some elements to think about. Well done Marty!