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Sunday, 19 January 2014

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET - FILM REVIEW



Release Date: 17th January 2014 (UK)
Age Certificate: 18
Running Time: 180 mins
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Terence Winter and Jordan Belfort
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie


Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.


Let’s start off with the negatives for a change. First, the character Jordan Belfort is totally unlikeable and a huge dick. I know this is the point of the film, you’re not supposed to know what happens to the unfortunate souls that buy nothing from him, and see his uncontrollable success. But the fact remains it doesn’t usually make a good film if you fail to back the main protagonist. The second failure of The Wolf is the over indulgent party scenes, there are too many to be frank. I am struggling to comprehend what Scorsese was pondering what to take out when ordered to do so. To give the benefit of the doubt, the party scenes do produce enough laughs to pull you through the film. However, the main point remains, you don’t care whether this guy dies, lives, is arrested or lives happily ever after.


The strengths are obvious; it looks marvelous, as it would, coming from Scorsese.  It’s also fast paced which is always nice in a film. The three hour time limit has been criticised, which I partly agree with, however, it doesn’t necessarily feel three hours. Finally, the acting is top notch. Saying that, I still think Leonardo DiCaprio still won’t win the Oscar, which is indeed disappointing, but one day he will achieve. He’s too much of a great talent to be forgotten in the Oscar timeline. Jonah Hill, for me, will always be remembered as the loser from Superbad, and that’s a shame. 

Good for some laughs and a spectacle for great acting. The Wolf of Wall Street is an adult film for teenagers.

7/10

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