The Wolf of Wall Street (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I saw this movie last night about the true story of Jordan Belfort (played by Leonard DiCaprio) and his stockbroker firm Stratton Oakmont. The movie is quite incredible in showing the excesses of the stock market and DiCaprio is just fantastic. I worked in securities law for awhile and some of the things in the movie made me chuckle a little bit.

The problem with the movie is that it's too good in showing all the excesses and the practices of pushing small penny stocks. It's much better than Wall Street and closer to the movie The Boiler Room but much, much better than that. Scorsese has made a masterpiece but it's hard to tell what his position is. Is he trying to send a lesson -- look how bad this is -- or is he merely voyeuristic. It's a little hard to know. By the time I left the movie, it was more a feeling of revulsion. However, as my wife said, there were probably a lot of people in the theatre who wished they could have been like him.

Belfort is still in the process of repaying the people he defrauded and I read somewhere that his profits from the film would go to pay some of the money he still owes to these people.

Anyway, this is a fantastic movie and well worth seeing. I'd be surprised if DiCaprio doesn't get at least an Academy Award nomination. Jonah Hill who plays his partner is likewise fantastic and should be up for awards on this.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Brad,
Not seen it yet but probably will. Plenty of comment in papers down here about the apparent glorification of the excesses by main character. Apparently he still owes $100 million and by offering to use his royalties from book / movie is trying the bargain this amount down. Seems he is still living a good life when many of his victims lost a lot.

Having said that Scorcese and Di Caprio is a winning combination for me (big Departed fan).

Brett

 

[lancer]

Leo, like Tom Hanks, seems to make nothing but good shows. Love him or hate him, he seems to have the touch. I liked him a lot, with Hanks, in Catch Me If You Can, another fact-based film. -- Al

 

[BLReed]

Must be a real in depth dialog. Wins the prize for the most F-words in any film--506,
that is one every 2.8 minutes. I avoid DiCaprio and will this one also.

 

[Warrior]

I avoid DiCaprio and will this one also.

Just curious as to why.

 

[BLReed]

Just curious as to why.

His roles always seem to involve a character that is arrogant and egotistical.
Maybe that is a result of his acting talent, but comes across to me as his
innate personality.

 

[jazzeum]

He has come along as an actor and his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street is fantastic. In the last few movies I've seen of him, there is not a bad performance and he just keeps getting better and better.

Brad

 

[Warrior]

His roles always seem to involve a character that is arrogant and egotistical.
Maybe that is a result of his acting talent, but comes across to me as his
innate personality.

Thanks for the clarification; I thought he was brilliant in The Departed, he played that part to perfection, starting out as the wet behind the ears State Trooper and finishing as a hardened not giving a @#$% personality, a trait I've seen more than once with friends and relatives who are or were in law enforcement, being around pieces of garbage 24/7/365 sometimes changes a person and not for the good, just ask my Uncle and my Dad.

My Dad went from a swell guy you wanted to be around to a person nobody wanted to be around until he retired, now he's back to lovable old Chris, there was a period of time where my whole family walked around on eggshells around him.

To your point, he's also played several characters who in fact were arrogant and egotistical, so in that regard, he's done a great job in those roles.

 

[tdubel]

Thanks for the clarification; I thought he was brilliant in The Departed, he played that part to perfection, starting out as the wet behind the ears State Trooper and finishing as a hardened not giving a @#$% personality, a trait I've seen more than once with friends and relatives who are or were in law enforcement, being around pieces of garbage 24/7/365 sometimes changes a person and not for the good, just ask my Uncle and my Dad.

My Dad went from a swell guy you wanted to be around to a person nobody wanted to be around until he retired, now he's back to lovable old Chris, there was a period of time where my whole family walked around on eggshells around him.

To your point, he's also played several characters who in fact were arrogant and egotistical, so in that regard, he's done a great job in those roles.

Great points George. Nothing wrong with being arrogant and egotistical when that is the role you are asked to play.

Boggles my mind some of the posts, I mean, actors are asked to bring the role to the screen. SO, if I am going to play a wild man on Wall Street enjoying all the benefits of that lifestyle and I am making money hand over fist and frankly don't give a crap b/c I am a criminal, seems to me that would call for a BIG EGO!!!!! Bravo to Leo, he is an excellent actor and Martin S is one of my favorite directors.

As for the f bomb, well, hate to break it to everyone, right or wrong, it is part of everyday language. I have the "privilege" of sitting in meetings at Fortune companies with what are supposed to be the brightest minds in business, the high achievers, etc. Guess what..............I hear the f bomb more than I care to count and most of the time it is used in proper context of the conversation, meeting, etc meaning it is used as an adjective. Amazing, but true, that word or its cousins - fricking, freaking, fracking, flipping, etc are just part of life now. I am immune.

As for any judgements on these types of people, I don't make them. Would I want to live a day in the life.......you bet your rear, especially one of the good days. Again, though I never look too deep into morals, etc. People make choices, they live with them, when you are looking back on these choices through a tell all or a movie, it is meant to entertain and they often do, I never look to a movie for a teaching moment.

TD

 

[Vezzolf]

Must be a real in depth dialog. Wins the prize for the most F-words in any film--506,
that is one every 2.8 minutes.

I don't mind some rude/raw dialog if its appropriate to the subject matter and adds to the realism of the film but I heard that the nudity and language (F-Bombs) were excessive and were way over the top in this film. Scorcese films can be very raw (its his style)....I really liked "Raging Bull" especially in the B/W. I did have some interest in seeing this film but after some reviews very likely I will pass on this one.

 

[wayne556517]

I don't think so the nudity and swearing was appropriate for the kinda film it is.

 

[nysoldiers]

DiCaprio is one of the most accomplished actors of his generation. The Departed, Aviator, Gangs of New York, Titanic and Revolutionary Road were brilliantly played.
As a child actor Gilbert Grape showcased his talents.
He's not quite a Daniel Day Lewis, who in my opinion is the best living actor, but he is in the top echelon.
I haven't seen Wolf yet but will at some point, mainly to see Leo.
,

 

[The Military Workshop]

I see Leo won a Golden Globe for Wolf. However it was in category of Comedy or Musical. Not seen it but had not thought it was in that category. Perhaps the scene where thumping chest made it eligible for this category.{sm4}

Either way the fact Scorcese keeps casting him in my view adds to Leos credibility as an actor.

Christian Bale also nominated in same category for American Hustle. Have seen it and again cant see how fits that category. The hair styles were funny !

Brett

 

[The Military Workshop]

Having seen it now understand why in comedy category in Golden Globes.

Enjoyable movie and good bang for your buck as a long movie.

Interesting to see Joanna Lumley in it as the aunt.

Margot Robbies accent reminded me of the accent of the blond in My Name is Earl. I see Earl's sidekick also in this.

Impressive breakout role by Robbie.

Recommended.

 

[Fitzgibbon]

An absolute riot and nowhere in all that length was there a ho-hum moment. I believe the maths make it 2.8 per minute but the language and explicit scenery is appropriate to the topic. My son took me to see it or I simply would not have chosen it; having gone, I was pleasantly suprised. "Sell me this pen" - four stars no risk.

 

[jazzeum]

The real Jordan Belfort was on with Piers Morgan last week. The good thing about the movie (and book) was that all the profits are going to pay back the investors he defrauded. Piers Morgan asked him if he had made any efforts to meet the people he had defrauded and he said it had never occurred to him and when asked why not, he said that the way he was making it up was through paying them back. He bobbed and weaved on this one and probably knows if he met some of them and tried to apologize, they'd probably skin him alive, justifiably.