Wednesday 29 January 2014

The Wolf of Wall Street

Well lets just say Martin Scorsese nearly 72 years old, has definitely still got it! He managed to produce the film that is going to be hard to beat, and it is only the first month of 2014. The film is actually based on a real story that was written by the wolf, Jordan Belfort himself many years ago, then brought to life by Terence Winter. The film is rightly certified an 18 as it is so crashing the boundaries of film making which has not been done in quite some time. There is no pussy footing around any of the illegal activities but throwing them in the audiences face. A few people I know found the plot a bit garish for them, I guess they didn't expect the full nature of this film; we all saw the trailers but for once we weren't allowed to see too much as the best parts couldn't be aired publicly, though to be honest if that ‘Flora’ advert where the kids catch their mummy and daddy “wrestling” is allowed on day time TV then it’s hardly any worse.. Maybe I should rethink that but you get my point (naughty ad!). This is any lads dream film, it had money, boobs, sex, scandal, boobs, drugs, women and boobs, wait did I mention boobs already?

Leonardo DiCaprio is our main guy Jordan, coming from a very earnest start his only ambition in life is to get rich, he learns from Mark Hanna all the tricks of the trade, which are basically get high, screw the customers and ‘jerk off’ a lot, he describes these tips as not tips but a prescription. He quickly becomes Hanna’s prodigy but for all of about five minutes as the company goes bust when stocks plummet in the 1978 crash. So Belfort tries his luck elsewhere, he uses his new found skills and becomes the best earner in the dive he’s discovered gaining 50% of whatever shares he sells.

We then meet Jonah Hills character Donnie Azoff, who is Belfonts incest neighbour being married to his own cousin, and Donnie quickly becomes Belfonts best friend and partner in crime – literally. This leads to them two making their own company, selling penny shares and luring rich people in as victims. Many laws are broken, drugs taken, girls… well you know. Everything begins to spiral out of control and Belfont divorces his beautiful wife, and upgrades to Naomi, his number one bit on the side soon becomes his new wife. They build a family together in their mansion and enjoy the perks of being loaded, whilst it lasts.


A hell of a lot of drama comes their way when the FBI start a thorough investigation into the company and their money, the company which has got people queuing up to work for them. Money is being hidden in places in Sweden and Jordan calls on his wife’s English Aunt Emma, played by the one and only Joanna Lumley, to assist him in this process so it cannot be traced to him.

There is a tonne more to the story and what happens but I’ve given you the basic overview without ruining it for anyone who hasn't seen it! The cast of this movie is A list with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Margot Robbie and so many more recognisable faces! I can’t believe Leo is 40 this year and has been acting for more than half his life with so many amazing movies under his belt, but it was this film that got him finally nominated for best actor, and not just one nomination, but three! It’s about time, don’t you think?! If you've seen this film, you’ll agree he deserve to win at least one of them. I would say Jonah Hills support was pretty flawless too!

This films breaks so many rules, pushes its limits to the max and is full of non stop drama, though be aware that the length of it isn't for the faint hearted as it is nearly three hours long! The emotional roller-coaster that is ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ brings you up and down, it is a tough one though because you follow the journey with Jordan, you see all of the terrible things that occur but you can’t not like him, well you at least are a little torn by him, he tries to repent and change but karma's a bitch and you can’t fight these things.


I may have disagreed with most of the plot for ethical reasons but I can’t deny it was a fantastic movie, critically acclaimed and given five stars by so many reviews. It was hilarious and creepy, wrong on so many levels but pure brilliance too. The acting was phenomenal, the cinematography was great, especially on the boat scene.

Story Line – 8.5
Acting – 9.6
Cinematography – 9.0



I highly recommend this movie to all who like a thrill, to be honest these aren't normally my kind of films but when something is so greatly rated you can’t help but be curious, and if it’s finally got that 18 rating then why not? It seems as though many films get a way with being rated a 12 nowadays, so I wondered what it took – now I know! Bravo!

2 comments:

  1. 1929 crash should be 1987 crash - black Monday, don't think they had computers in 1929 :p

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  2. Oops good spot! 1929 was the date of the other film made - my bad mixed it up!

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