The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

2013 R 180 Minutes

Crime | Drama | Comedy

A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography.

Overall Rating

8 / 10
Verdict: Good

User Review

  • WHAT I LIKED: On the face of it one might think that 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' is an odd movie for Martin Scorsese to have directed, but when you think about it he's always been a filmmaker interested in addictive and troubled lifestyles acting against people's conscience, and in many ways this film plays out in that vein. The only thing is, there's very little of the conscience this time around, as really what you get here is almost three hours of filthy behaviour and moral bankruptcy that you're supposed to enjoy as we watch this awful true story of pure indulgence and irreverence brought to life in all of its horrifying glory. Give that to any other filmmaker and it probably wouldn't have worked to hold up a movie without some more serious deconstruction of the characters, but Scorsese's snappy style and sharp pacing really makes Terence Winter's witty script work. Couple that with a captivating central performance from Leonardo DiCaprio and his supporting players and what you've got is one thoroughly engaging movie that really shouldn't be as good as it is.

    WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It really is almost three hours of filthy behaviour and moral bankruptcy... There's very little grounding in the reasoning behind these characters' actions or the consequences of them beyond their own demise, and even then any potential humility is nowhere to be seen. That means there's precious little to sympathise with or hold onto, and it does at the very least make the film feel overstretched. There's only so much you can enjoy pure opulence porn, and sadly this is one of those examples where Scorsese lets his enjoyment of the poison of his characters' world overwhelm the film.

    VERDICT: Watch as Scorsese's snappy style and a witty script hold up a movie of truly evil indulgence, 'The Wold of Wall Street,' is surprisingly engaging and yet deeply disgusting at all times.