The Wolf of Wall Street

The truth is often stranger than fiction, so the saying goes. Jordan Belfort came of age in Manhattan at the perfect confluence of stocks, drugs, regrettable coutour, and moderately burgeoning technology. To say that the quaalude is more the star of this film than Leonardo DiCaprio is an understatement, and although Martin Scorcese has never shied away from graphic nudity, The Wolf of Wall Street has enough gratuitous depictions of debauchery to make most people blush. But, that's the whole point. The Wolf of Wall Street is a three hour nostalgic journey back into the 1980's through the perspective of a wide-eyed, money-hungry young man named Jordan Belfort. Belfort wrote an autobiography that gained traction in Hollywood over the past few years, and sparked the interest of both Scorcese and DiCaprio, who turned his story into one of the more entertaining trips to the cinema that you'll take this holiday season. His life is a series of questionable decisions that ultimately led to his imprisonment on stock-related fraud charges and a life-altering move to become a motivational speaker.

We're in the heyday of the 1980's. People are watching Cheers and Who's the Boss on TV, and we have never looked at pet rabbits the same way thanks to Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Americans are walking like an Egyptian, and Livin on a Prayer, and you can buy a new home for under $100,000 (although the mortgage will be upwards of 10%). Jordan Belfort is a newly married man trying to make a name for himself on Wall Street. He gets career advice from shady stock brokers, and after losing his livelihood on Black Monday (10/19/87), he finds himself in the penny stocks game, using his gift of gab to make money in a too-stupid-to-be-true scheme that ultimately nets him millions of dollars and nearly two years in a white collar prison. Along the way, he cheats on his women with, does enough drugs to kill a horse, and finds a way to attract the attention of a straight-arrow FBI agent who is almost mesmerized by the brazen stupidity of Belfort. Ultimately, Jordan's transgressions catch up with him, and although his punishment is extremely light given the blatant violations of law, the real punishment is the self-destruction that destroys his relationships and his reputation.

The thing that I appreciate most about The Wolf of Wall Street is that in its completely absurd, crude, and wildly inappropriate look at the life of this man caught up in a life of excess in a time of excess, the decisions by Scorcese to make the film as graphic as it was, is completely appropriate to serve the message to the audience. What I mean is that you might watch the film and think that the language, nudity, and drugs are unnecessary for any film. And they are. But to show how ludicrous Belfort's life was at that time, it is perfectly appropriate for this film. Mission accomplished, Marty.

We all saw how Oliver Stone took Gordon Gecko, greed, and Michael Douglas and made a cultural icon out of the idea of financial opportunity if you only have the absence of conscience or morality. Scorcese and DiCaprio turn this idea on its head. The money is there, and the 80's Wall Street story has been told already. This is more what becomes of someone who is experiencing the success without a filter. A sort of social experiment to see what a greedy bastard with an addictive personality does when all restraints are removed. It's fascinating, and assuming it's all true (based on Belfort's autobiography, so there is always some questionable content) it's extremely well done by the filmmakers.

DiCaprio takes on the role with ease. There aren't many actors who could handle a role this demanding, and he nails it. He puts on the multimillionaire womanizing face and runs with it. Wait, that's his real life. The big difference for Leo is the transformation from young Wall Street idealist to alcoholic drug-addicted malcontent. Enough is never enough, and always willing to try something new, we see a different Leo. He says that it was a difficult role to prepare for, and his endless Lemmon-714 quaalude scene is definitely a different look at the actor. As he embarks on the next phase of his acting career (40's), this could quite possibly be the last look at the Leo of this type. I have a feeling that he may be moving in a more "Clooney-esque" or "Pitt-ish" direction in the future. More time behind the scenes, and more discerning taste with role selection (not that he has chosen bad roles, the contrary is true, they've just been very ripe and lofty). I can see him moving in a conservative direction with roles fewer and farther between. He's established himself nicely financially, and he's a bankable producer who's just getting started (a few films prior to this year, Runner Runner, Out of the Furnace, Wolf of Wall Street this year). His patterns have been to make 2 films one year, take a year off, then 2 more films. This year was The Great Gatsby and Wolf of Wall Street and there's nothing that he's currently working on right now except a production spot on a Calvin and Hobbes Bill Watterston biopic.

Jonah Hill is truly the heart of this film. His character, Donnie Azoff is despicable, deplorable, disgusting, and just plain creepy. Sporting giant fake white teeth, there is no filter between what is socially acceptable, even under the worst of circumstances, and what he says and does. Jonah Hill is eschewing his image as a fat funny guy with this role as a follow up to his Oscar nominated turn in Moneyball. Sure, he's still doing comedy, and doing it well (22 Jumpstreet later this year), but he's established himself as a legitimately credible actor with this role. One great performance is a lucky break, but two is the beginning of a very promising career. The character is so rich with material, and Hill takes advantage to the fullest, leaving the viewer with a bad taste in his mouth. He's like a train wreck, you can't look away no matter how terrible it is. I would put Jonah Hill in as the most likely candidate to receive award recognition out of the whole bunch. The only thing missing was finding out what actually happened to the man that Donnie Azoff was based on. Did he go to prison? What is he doing now? An interesting case study. There is a lot of information out there (some conflicting) about the story behind the story, and who the character of Donnie Azoff was likely created after. It would have satisfied me a bit more had there been the update at the end of the film with real life pictures, etc.

Margot Robbie is a newcomer who holds her own opposite Leo as the bombshell trophy wife (his 2nd wife) who swoops in just as he gets rich and leaves his first wife. I wonder why the role didn't get more attention from more recognizable actresses, but that ball's in Leo and Marty's court. They know what they're doing and so does she. Maybe it was the nudity in the role, but that hasn't stopped many women in the past. She handles the role like a pro and does a very nice job running with the big boys. Expect her name to become more common when dealing with up and coming young 20-something actresses.

Kyle Chandler always does a great job, and as the only morally straight character in the whole film, you root for him to take down the arrogant Belfort. There's a scene on Belfort's yacht where they are pussyfooting around bribery, and Chandler shines. I only wish that his final scene on the subway lasted a bit longer (although that would have pushed the film past the 2 hour 59 minute mark).

Matthew McConaughey is shown consistently in the previews, and his screen-time is a mere five minutes or so. One integral lunch scene where Leo's character is introduced to the dark underworld of stock trading is absolutely owned by McConaughey's abstract behavior and lewd comments. Snorting cocaine and drinking martinis at lunch while he explains to Belfort how the market really works is probably the scene-stealing moment of the film.

Martin Scorcese can do no wrong in my book. He's been making movies for over 50 years, and although his best work is probably behind him, a genius will always be a genius. I was a little concerned by the due date being moved back and had heard that it was due to post-production editing issues. Those issues weren't completely resolved. The film ran too long, and became sloppy at times, but I can chalk that up to the story and not the director. Scorcese will continue to do what he loves with a few projects on the horizon, most notably Sinatra (which Leo was attached to until recently). This is something different, which is something that one of the greatest film makers of all time is so great at. He presents raw acting, uncensored content, and does it unflinchingly as usual. Another great and controversial film by Martin Scorcese.

Quaaludes. More precisely, methaqualone. It was a short-lived drug that peaked in the 1970's, and faded away in the 1980's to what is essentially obscurity now. Taken from Wikipedia, "Effects can include euphoria, drowsiness, reduced heart rate, reduced respiration, increased sexual arousal (aphrodisia), and paresthesias (numbness of the fingers and toes). Larger doses can bring about respiratory depression, slurred speech, headache, and photophobia (a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light)." This is interesting when looking at specific acting behaviors by DiCaprio and Hill, and a lot of their methods seem much more deliberate now after looking into quaaludes. For such an important piece of the film, I found the drug aspect to be a bit understated but maybe Scorcese wanted a more character-driven vehicle. What I found was that the setting and circumstances were the true stars of the film. NYSE in 1987. Corruption at its most extravagant. Fascinating.

I can't say that this film will garner any awards. Nominations? Sure, but it turned out to be a pretty weak awards season in the end, so that's not saying too much. I can see DiCaprio, Hill, Scorcese, and the film getting nominations as it's something different than what else is out there. Something real. Something familiar for those of us who lived the 80's. A guilty pleasure/fantasy that is just not something any of us could even imagine as a reality. The Wolf of Wall Street is entertaining, and at three hours, it doesn't seem too long, which is a compliment. That said, it's not for everyone. In fact, I would say it's not for most people. If you can appreciate the acting, the story, and the tribute to the preposterous, you will have a great time at the movies. And you'll see lots of hookers, drugs, and Leonardo DiCaprio naked with a candle in his butt. Awesome. 7/10.