The Wolf Of Wall Street

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Director : Martin Scorsese

Year : 2014

Genre : Comedy

Rating : ****1/2

''No good film is too long, no bad film is too short'' - Roger Ebert

Telling the astonishing true story of notorious stocks trader Jordan Belfort, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' is the 5th collaboration between Leonardo Di Caprio and director Martin Scorsese, who have previously worked together on 'Gangs Of New York', 'The Aviator', 'Shutter Island' and 'The Departed'. As Jordan Belfort, Leonardo Di Caprio delivers an explosive and volcanic performance whilst Scorsese ups the ante when it comes to on screen sex and drug abuse and these two elements combine to form one of the most entertaining and anarchic movies in years; a movie that has already won a handful of awards and is sure to bag a few more when it comes to the BAFTA's and the Academy Awards. It's garnered it's fair share of criticism from more conservative voices who question the film's rather liberal attitudes to women and Scorsese's depiction of excessive narcotic abuse but to me, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' (which is based on Belfort's own memoirs) perfectly encapsulates the power of money and the dangers of massive success. Our newspapers are constantly filled with stories of those who have destroyed their legacies and iconic statuses through copious drug and alcohol abuse, so while 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' may be set a couple of decades ago, it still feels somewhat current and dangerously close to home. However the seriousness of the issues that film tries to discuss is somewhat hidden thanks to Scorsese's out of control directorial style and Di Caprio's volatile and unexpected portrayal of the almost dictatorial Jordan Belfort. With a fantasictically entertaining screenplay from Terence Winters as well as a supporting cast which includes Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Jonah Hill and Jean Dujardin, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' is a great time at the cinemas and one that is sure to feature in many British critics top 10 films come December.

Chronicling his meteoric rise to fame and wealth, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' tells the story of the fast talking and charismatic Jordan Belfort who would begin his career in a small abandoned warehouse but would soon build a multi million dollar empire thanks to corruption and exploitation. Named 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' by Forbes magazine, his business Stratton Oakmont would become one of the most sought after in the country, with thousands of hopeful stockbrokers practically begging for a job at the prestigious firm. Popular with his workers but not with the FBI, Belfort would soon find himself in jail when his love of money, drugs and prostitutes begins to spiral wildly out of control. 

Renowned for being a director of excess, Martin Scorsese pushes the already wide boundaries when it comes to on screen nudity and the portrayal of drug abuse. Some say that he has glorified the excessive consumption of dangerous substances but for me, he deals with these issues in the same way that Danny Boyle dealt with them in his cult classic 'Trainspotting'. Yes we see the positive effects that heroin and cocaine have on the taker at the moment of intake and these make for some very entertaining and hilarious scenes, but it doesn't take long for Scorsese to also show us the crippling damage and emotional destruction they have on those who take them and these suddenly bring the film back down to a level of frank reality. I understand and trust Scorsese enough as a filmmaker to know that he is doing nothing to glorify prostitution or drug abuse, he is just telling the true story of a man who didn't know when to say that enough was enough and I believe in this respect he has done his job well. He is one of the greatest directors ever to have lived and 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' does nothing to dilute my opinions at all.

For years I had been saying that Leonardo Di Caprio was nothing but a face; a face that filmmakers and distribution companies could slap on posters to guarantee a hit no matter how bad the actual movie was. However, the past 10 years have really opened my eyes to what a remarkable actor he really is and just how wrong I really was. Has already proved me wrong in movies such as the aforementioned 'Gangs Of New York', 'Inception', 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Django Unchained' and he does so again in 'The Wolf Of Wall Street', for my money his best film to date. Delivering a performance that rivals that of Al Pacino in 'Scarface' or Robert De Niro in many of Scorsese's best works such as 'Casino' and 'Goodfellas', Di Caprio throws the shackles of his rubbish cinematic past ('Titanic', 'The Quick and The Dead' and 'Romeo & Juliet')  finally behind him and gives one of the most volatile and unpredictable performances I have ever seen. Playing the character as somewhat of an antihero, Di Caprio does an astonishing job of somehow making us empathise with him even while he is committing fraud, cheating on his wife with a prostitute or destroying his liver with vodka and cocaine. It may be strange to say but thanks to his charisma and dedication to the role, Leonardo Di Caprio actually makes us want the life his character has, despite the fact that we know in our hearts that it is a life that is sure to end in doom and self destruction. The movie also demonstrates just how funny Di Caprio can be and there are numerous moments in the film that allow him to perform some of the best physical slapstick comedy I have seen since the grossly underated 'The Three Stooges' reboot. Not only showcasing his immense acting talent but also his physical and hilarious side, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' belongs to Leonardo Di Caprio.

The supporting cast while not as layered or as interesting as Di Caprio all do a very good job of adding a dimension to the movie and helps us become more involved in the excessive world in which these characters live. Acting as Belfort's right hand man we have Jonah Hill who plays Donnie Azoff, a man who helps to form Stratton Oakmont and in turn fall under the same vices that his partner does. Having never been a fan of Hill before (see my 'This Is The End' review), it was a joy to see him perform so well and hold his own against the formidable Leonardo Di Caprio. If he has any sense at all, Jonah Hill will abandon the frat boy comedy style that made his name and concentrate more on straight laced performances such as this and 'Moneyball' because he is actually a very talented actor and enjoyable screen presence. Talking of actors turning their careers around, Matthew McConaughey has a small role as Jordan Belfort's first employer and once again he proves that he is one of the most versatile and reliable actors working in the business. He may have started in dross such as 'Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past' and 'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days' but has gone on to star in some of the most critically lauded films of the last 5 years such as 'Mud', 'Killer Joe' and the Academy Award nominated 'Dallas Buyers Club'. While he may not be on screen for a huge amount of time, he is cinematic dynamite and instantly entertaining as the catalyst for the life that Belfort is destined to lead. Added to this, Rob Reiner is hilariously cynical as Belfort's father, Joanna Lumley is as captivating as ever as Belfort's mother in law and 'The Artist's Jean Dujardin is a welcome sight as Belfort's scrupulous banker.

It is amazing that a movie like 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' could even be made today. The industry has changed so much these past few years and the criteria for a film to be greenlit has gone under such a metamorphosis. Yes, the film may be directed by one of the most lauded directors in cinema history and it may star one of the most bankable stars on the planet but it contains more nudity, drug abuse and swearing than any other picture I have ever seen; ingredients that are usually spell death for a mainstream picture. It has taken the record for the movie with the most uses of the 'F' word in history and has gathered a healthy amount of backlash from conservative groups and feminists. At nearly 3 hours, it also Scorsese's longest film to date and for those who are used to more streamlined and efficient film making this may be a problem. However for me, 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' may just be one of Scorsese's absolute best and I am glad that Paramount Pictures had the courage to release it. Usually January is a bad time for cinema goers, but with '12 Years A Slave' and this kicking off the year, 2014 is shaping up to be one heck of a good year in film.