The Wolf of Wall Street: Short and Sweet

If there is one decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences widely acknowledged as a source of derision amongst both film fans and industry insiders, it involves Leonardo DiCaprio having never received an Oscar for his work.  That controversial status quo was set to be severely shaken by The Wolf of Wall Street, the controversial black comedy that would represent the fifth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and DiCaprio and provide the talented actor with what looked like a career-defining role.  The Christmas Day release boasted a wild and humorous trailer, and with a supporting cast that included Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey, audiences were preparing for an energetic cinematic gift.  As a lifelong fan of Martin Scorsese, I couldn’t wait for his newest project, and I could have cared less about the polarized reactions from certain critics and audiences who bemoaned the morals depicted.  Like a number of other holiday releases, The Wolf of Wall Street would undoubtedly garner a lot of Awards Season attention, but aside from delivering a good film, it also became clear that DiCaprio and Scorsese would be delivering a genuinely fun time at the theater.

As the end credits began to roll, I sat in the theater utterly speechless, because The Wolf of Wall Street is now not only my favorite film of 2013, but it is also a serious contender to replace Goodfellas as my favorite Martin Scorsese film.  Hysterical, irreverent, and filled with insanity from beginning to end of its gargantuan 3-hour running time, this dark comedy pulls no punches while also delivering a sobering character study and social commentary.  Leonardo DiCaprio removes all professional boundaries, showcasing previously hidden comedic talents and adding even more energy to his already talented supporting cast.  Jonah Hill continues to evolve as a powerhouse cinematic presence, Matthew McConaughey electrifies his limited screen time, and newcomer Margot Robbie sizzles in every one of her scenes.  Arguing the morals of a Scorsese film about a convicted white collar criminal is akin to criticizing a Tarantino film for violence; as long as you prepare for an R-rating, sit back and enjoy The Wolf of Wall Street.

  

Overall Recommendation: Very High

The Wolf of Wall Street: Full Review

The Wolf of Wall Street - (December 25^th, 2013): R

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Opening Weekend Box Office: #5 with $18,361,578

Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $63,125,467

Gross Revenue: $63,125,467

Production Budget: $225 million

Director: Martin Scorsese

 

Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, and Shutter Island; anytime Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio combine forces, the result is cinematic gold, so based on that history alone, the announcement of their collaboration on The Wolf of Wall Street set the ball rolling on some huge expectations.  For all of his strong performances, DiCaprio has been repeatedly overlooked for Oscar recognition, so one of the first associations related to news of a Christmas-release Scorsese project had to involve the hope that the talented actor would deliver a golden statue-demanding performance.  The actor-director combination alone was more than enough to guarantee ticket sales, but an equally-intriguing development related to the casting of Jonah Hill, who shed the raunchy-comedy typecast in 2011’s Moneyball and now seemed to have developed considerable co-star chemistry with DiCaprio.  Given current public perception of the financial market and the ever-expanding wealth gap, the time was ripe for Scorsese and Boardwalk Empire screenwriter Terrence Winter to deliver a stinging an unforgiving narrative focusing on white collar criminal Jordan Belfort, who was convicted for securities fraud and money laundering in 1998.  The trailer looked fantastic and early critical reaction acknowledged the overall quality of the film despite the polarizing and controversial subject elements, so really, what wasn’t there to love about the potential for The Wolf of Wall Street?

Opening in 1987, The Wolf of Wall Street introduces audiences to young and ambitious stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he begins his first day on Wall Street; the wide-eyed professional receives some very dubious tips career tips from his boss, Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey), shortly before he loses his job on Black Monday.  Searching for any opportunity in a tight market, Jordan finds work in a small-time investor center that deals in penny stocks, but soon enough, his aggressive pitch and sales tactics earn him a sizable fortune.  After Jordan befriends his neighbor and fellow salesman Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), the two decide to open their own firm, Stratton Oakmont, which soon transforms into a billion-dollar company characterized by lavish parties and questionable financial record-keeping.  Jordan soon embraces a lifestyle of drugs, prostitutes, and alcohol, eventually leaving his loving wife for supermodel Naomi Lapaglia (Margot Robbie), whom he subsequently marries and exposes to lavish amenities as his financial empire grows.  However, even after moving a majority of his funds to a Swiss bank account to be laundered by Jean-Jaques Saurel (Jean Dujardin), Jordan cannot escape investigation from the FBI and SEC for securities fraud, especially since lead agent and straight arrow Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler) is determined to ruin the “untouchable” white collar criminal.

Between its unhinged performances, its manic energy, and it’s downright irreverent and hysterical tone, The Wolf of Wall Street is an immoral three hour thrill ride that showcases the worst kind of behavior in the best possible way.  It wasn’t much of a surprise to see DiCaprio flex range across the dramatic scenes, but this was the first instance I would ever classify the popular star as funny…the scene where he overdoses on Quaaludes is an undeniable riot of physical comedy that shouldn’t be missed.  The supporting cast runs on all cylinders as well, with Jonah Hill showcasing a growing cinematic maturity as he disappears into a considerably complex character; while Matthew McConaughey leaves an indelible mark despite not appearing beyond the first half hour.  And let’s not forget Margot Robbie, who first scorches onto screen as eye candy but then surprisingly holds her own against the veteran cast as she continues to sizzle; I can only imagine how Google Searches for the newcomer exploded after opening weekend.  Add-in the expert pacing and direction of Scorsese, and it is no surprise that I absolutely adored The Wolf of Wall Street, and upon closer inspection, I think that a majority of criticism crumbles.

It would be a true Martin Scorsese project if it didn’t ruffle a few feathers after release, and The Wolf of Wall Street is no exception…polarizing audiences and thoroughly disgusting more conservative viewers and critics.  Make no mistake, this black comedy earns its R-rating in spades, featuring the worst possible behavior that would result from immoral business practices and unimpeded financial success, but really, why would you expect any different from a Scorsese character study?  Yes, the film sheds an ugly light on Wall Street, but just because someone finds it offensive doesn’t change the fact that white collar crime exists; Jordan Belfort was a criminal, he was punished for his crimes, and no one should apologize for the fact that it was fun as hell to watch.  One cannot be faulted for walking into a Scorsese project expecting a serious movie, but within the first two minutes, it is blatantly obvious that this movie shouldn’t be taken too seriously, so anyone offended needs to relax and just enjoy the mayhem.  So, it may be offensive and crude, but nothing about The Wolf of Wall Street is anything less than utterly brilliant filmmaking.

Some may be disgusted by the subject matter of The Wolf of Wall Street, but the only thing that disgusts me is that this remarkably entertaining isn’t making more of a splash at the box office, because it deserves to shatter records.  Given the glut of five Christmas Day releases, a fifth place debut of $18 million is nothing to sneer at…what a shame that weaklings like 47 Ronin and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty split the audience.  Some potential moviegoers may have been dissuaded by the well-publicized three hour running time, but trust me when I say that you won’t feel drained or unengaged for a second.  To-date, this most recent Scorsese-DiCaprio collaboration has only earned $63 million in ticket sales against a $100 million production budget; and for such a strong movie to face a potential loss is a travesty.  Looking forward, all I can do is encourage readers to head to the theater, pre-order my Blu-Ray copy, and wait for both star and director to cash-in come Awards Season.

         

Overall Recommendation: Very High

American Hustle: Short and Sweet

Just as early May signals the beginning of high-profile blockbuster releases, early December is characterized by a market saturation of critical darlings and Oscar-bait features, and one of the most attention-grabbing offerings this year was American Hustle.  With past award-winning offerings like The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, expectations were through the roof for director David O. Russell’s newest project, especially since it would reunite his most talented collaborators.  Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremey Renner have each either received Oscars or garnered high-profile nominations, so you would be hard-pressed to find another example of an ensemble cast that was guaranteed to be brilliant.  Each of these A-listers has dominated across numerous genres, but the fact that each is now associated with a superhero film franchise drew unexpected attention across social media, thereby driving awareness far beyond the traditional demographics.  Positioned as an irreverent black comedy and having received near-universal critical acclaim early-on, American Hustle was primed to stand out against the considerable competition of the Holiday Box Office.

Though the film takes some time to build-up true momentum and the script is oftentimes confusing, American Hustle delivers in the expected areas of individual performance and cast chemistry to further reinforce the reputation of David O. Russell.  Christian Bale disappears into his character both physically and emotionally, Amy Adams is mesmerizing and sexy, and both Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner are wonderfully sleazy…however, one cast member especially stands out.  It should come as no surprise that Jennifer Lawrence is once again brilliant and utterly hysterical, delivering the funniest moments and fully personifying the zany energy of the film.  And yet, once you strip away the performances, the script and pacing remain too erratic and confusing to classify the star-studded caper as flawless.  Regardless, the main draw of American Hustle has always been character-focused acting, and in that area the film is well-deserving of considerable attention come Awards Season. 

           

Overall Recommendation: High