Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
When it comes to the most corrupt stockbrokers in American history, it’s worth discussing Jordan Belfort. A world-famous Wall Street stockbroker, Belfort engaged in criminal behaviour causing his career to face disaster. During the 1980’s, Belfort was a charismatic salesman that a gift for selling stocks through illegal activities. Through his sheer charisma, Belfort became a well-known stockbroker in America. He engaged in a hedonistic lifestyle of substance abuse, partying and money-laundering. However, Belfort couldn’t get away with committing crimes without facing a price to pay. It didn’t take long before Belfort was caught by the FBI for criminal behaviour. Facing a 22-month period of prison time, Belfort was forced to face consequences of his crime. Through his criminal activities, Belfort became known as ‘the wolf of wall street’.
In 2013, Belfort’s criminal activities committed on Wall Street were depicted in Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece “The Wolf of Wall Street”. Martin Scorsese’s magnificent movie did an extraordinary job of bringing a controversial stockbroker’s life to the big-screen. Scorsese painted a powerful portrait of a stockbroker whose criminal activities caused disaster. Boasting breathtaking production-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s a captivating classic. At the centre of it all is a career-defining performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who embodies the larger-than-life personality of the famous stockbroker that made headlines years ago. Despite running nearly 3 hours in length, it’s one of the most entertaining movies Martin Scorsese has ever made. Ultimately, the film delivers a meaningful message about the consequences of crime that everyone resonate with everyone. A captivating crime classic, it celebrates the legacy created by a stockbroker committing scandalous activities that proved to be catastrophic.
Set in the 1980’s, “The Wolf of Wall Street” tells the true story of a notorious stockbroker that committed criminal activities. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Jordan Belfort, an energetic stockbroker seeking success on Wall Street. Belfort huge dreams of becoming a successful stockbroker come true when he creates the firm Stratton Oakmont. Assisted by his eccentric business partner Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), Belfort sets out on a journey to become a stockbroker that’s celebrated. Belfort gets carried away with a hedonistic lifestyle of partying, substance abuse and crime without thinking he will face any serious price to pay. However, Belfort’s hopes of success die down when he attracts the attention of the FBI. Forced to face the painful consequences of his actions, Belfort questions whether it’s possible to achieve success in a competitive profession.
Martin Scorsese has always been fascinated with stories of criminals. Whether it’s troubled taxi drivers, boxers with raging temper or greedy gangsters, Scorsese’s movies often focus on the lives of criminal characters. With “The Wolf of Wall Street”, however, Scorsese crafted his first stockbroker biopic. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the crimes committed by a real-life stockbroker, but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Scorsese captures a stockbroker’s journey engaging in illegal criminal activities during the 1980’s. Scorsese effectively uses breaking the fourth wall to capture Jordan Belfort’s engagement in criminal activities. Throughout the movie, Jordan often breaks the fourth wall talking directly to the audience by looking at the camera. For instance, this technique elevate the opening scene. During this unforgettable scene, Jordan Belfort introduces audiences to his lifestyle that involves engaging in sex, substance abuse and criminal behaviour making headline news. One appreciates fourth wall breaks bringing Belfort’s criminal lifestyle to the big-screen. Breaking the fourth wall is tricky. As Shawn Levy’s “Deadpool” suggested, breaking the fourth wall elevates comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through captivating visuals, Scorsese pays tribute to a stockbroker that’s compelling.
Another admirable aspect of “The Wolf of Wall Street” that merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, it’s the most impressive movie that Martin Scorsese has ever made. Scorsese’s decision to shoot the film in Wall Street offices is risky but pays off tremendously. For instance, real-life Wall Street offices elevate the monologue scene. During this unforgettable scene, Jordan Belfort delivers a motivational speech to employees reassuring them that he’s not leaving the organization. It’s one of the greatest speech scenes ever filmed for a movie. One appreciates real-life Wall Street offices bringing the controversial stockbroker’s life to the big-screen. Through these real-life offices, Scorsese honours the legacy of a legendary stockbroker that sought to make dreams come true. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Scorsese expertly uses songs capturing mood of the 1980’s when stockbrokers engaged in criminal activities. Through stunning production, Scorsese captures a Wall Street organization.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a biopic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and captures the life of a notorious stockbroker that committed crimes through voice-over narration. Throughout the movie, Scorsese effectively uses voice-over narration that captures a real-life stockbroker’s way of living. Evoking his iconic film “Goodfellas”, Scorsese uses voice-over narration to capture the mind of a stockbroker. Like Henry Hill’s poignant reflections on the uphill battles of being a gangster, Jordan Belfort recounts his experience in a Wall Street firm. Jordan Belfort often shares his experience in the stockbroker profession through voice-over narration. Through this ingenious technique, Scorsese creates a compelling character audiences can root for in spite of his reprehensible criminal behaviour. Voice-over narration is a tricky technique to use in movies. Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” suggested the narration elevates literary adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Scorsese honours a stockbroker today.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a career-defining performance as Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio achieved appreciation for playing star-crossed lovers on doomed ships. With “The Wolf of Wall Street”, however, he took on his first biopic role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a stockbroker that engaged in criminal activity, but DiCaprio succeeded. It’s a larger-than-life role that allows the actor to capitalize on his ability for playing characters with charisma. With mesmerizing expressions, he demonstrates the determination, greed and self centred personality of a stockbroker that engaged in criminal behaviour with serious repercussions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actors working in Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Jonah Hill is fantastic, bringing charisma to Jordan Belfort’s reckless partner that enjoys using marijuana tainting his public persona. Margot Robbie is remarkable, capturing the larger-than-life personality of Jordan Belfort’s wife that refuses to be treated as a sexual object with misogyny. Lastly, Kyle Chandler merits appreciation. As a corrupt FBI agent, he is menacing
Finally, “The Wolf of Wall Street” would earn everyone’s appreciation for capturing struggles faced by stockbrokers on Wall Street. Unlike most movies about con-artists, it’s a film that everyone would be able to relate to. It discusses universal themes including ambition, capitalism and marriage that would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with the financial world to appreciate the movie. It delivers a universal message that would engage everyone regardless of their financial knowledge.
Fans of Martin Scorsese’s movies will definitely appreciate “The Wolf of Wall Street” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A brilliant business biopic, it celebrates the legacy of a controversial stockbroker that’s iconic.
Nearly 30 years after downfall of a world-famous Wall Street stockbroker that faced repercussions for engaging in crime causing disaster, it’s a wonderful reminder of a film that changed the world through its depiction of a stockbroker’s criminal lifestyle sparking interest in a real-life historical figure whose life story deserves to be told in movies even when his reputation has been destroyed by reprehensible criminal behaviour.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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