Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin, Joanna Lumley, Cristin Millotti, Jon Faverau, Shea Wigham, Christine Ebersole, PJ Byrne, Ethan Suplee
Written By: Terrence Winter
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
This is a great year for film. I can’t remember the last year I watched this many films that I LOVED. I loved Wolf Of Wall Street. I loved Wolf Of Wall Street like I loved Gravity, Dallas Buyers Club, Blue Jasmine, Prisoners, Enough Said, The Kings Of Summer, and 12 Years A Slave. Scorsese is a master, and DiCaprio is his muse. Easily the best Scorsese movie since The Departed.
This has also been a great year for Leonardo DiCaprio. Before I saw this, I didn’t understand how DiCaprio could eek in a Best Actor nomination. Now that I’ve seen it, I understand that his nomination was a slam dunk. Brilliant performance, really. The “lemon” scene was brilliant. It’s probably the only reason Jonah Hill got a nomination. I remember a recent conversation with someone who was saying DiCaprio plays the same character in every film. I disagree. I think he shows range with his roles. Sure, he can’t always have a dynamic role, but when he does, he’s brilliant.
Here DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a real person, who made millions on Wall Street using extremely illegal and shady practices. He’s also a sex addict, a drug addict, and a pretty shitty person. Hill plays his right hand, Donnie Azoff. As the film progresses, and Jordan and Donnie make more money, they attract the attention of an FBI agent (Chandler), and Jordan has to scramble to put his life in order and stay out of jail. But most of all, he wants to protect his fortune.
The supporting cast is strong. McConaughey is great as an early inspiration for Jordan. Robbie is great as Jordan’s second suffering wife. Bernthal is great as Jordan’s childhood friend Brad, who helps get him out of a few sticky situations. Really, for a three hour film, it keeps up at a surprising breakneck pace. I’m so glad that Scorsese got to present his film the way he wanted to. 179 minutes of pure excitement, including a rather special-effect heavy sequence at sea. You keep waiting for Jordan to hit rock bottom, and he seemingly never does. He truly bounces back.
Definitely a must watch film.
FINAL GRADE: A
