This movie was announced for a Christmas day release. Compounding on that fact, this is a movie chock full of nudity, obscene language and fanatical money laundering. Jordan Belfort, the character from the book seems even richer and craftier of a sleazy public stock trader in the movie. If you have ever heard the urban term “selling wolf tickets” in which someone boasts overtly then you will be used to the New York lingo in this movie.
In one scene, a stripper trophy wife is saran wrapped with loads of money and the main character’s argue over the seemingly trivial matters to them of a few million dollars. In another scene, the gay butler who just got caught having an orgy and supposedly stealing $20,000 bucks is questioned then pummeled and hung off a balcony. The whole movie revolves around the team of high-flying, fast-talking co-cohorts selling junk public bonds and eventually being watched by the FBI.
Jordan Belfort played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Donnie played by Jonah Hill team up along with 2 other actor’s to make up the original quartet band of wheelers and dealers. Heading up the investigation as an FBI agent is Kyle Chandler also of “The Spectacular Now” fame. Martin Scorsese’s take on the book has included a good amount of the flavor of fare: Sex, Drugs and other peoples money.
Most of the theater was laughing for the first half of the movie giving the impression that the director made sure that although the main character’s are swindlers they stay relevant to the crowds. The movie is long at 2hr 49 minutes but definitely can hold viewers attention. Unlike, longer movies like “The Lord of the Rings” viewer’s won’t be wondering when it will end and will be very engrossed by the New York acting and filming.
It does not seem like recycled material which should be credited some to the book the movie is made from. In addition, Scorsese filmed with many scenes of Jordan Belfort’s uproarious office dichotomy and also family relationships with “The Duchess” his sexy wife. Not to mention the extras: hookers and office room hook-ups. There were also added plot points about the case being brought against Jordan Belfort that weren’t in the book. On the other hand, there were less scenes about the eventual recovery from drugs of the Belfort Character.
Either way there is nothing missing in this movie. For our viewing pleasure Scorsese added a few notes that make the movie have even more of an original appeal. The movie played through won’t seem like the Scorsese and DiCaprio’s under-sung caper “Shutter Island” which was filmed, acted and plotted superbly but left critic’s more or less unappeased. For viewers who liked “Good-fellas” this movie retains the look and feel of that time period with a modern flare added in for good measure.
This makes for a movie that is enjoyable to watch and retains a serious undertone which is addressed towards the end of the movie. Which Scorsese movie is better than the rest is yet again not a question but more of a statement. This Wow factor brings to the table elements of drama and thriller combined with a seductive plot, making for time well spent at the box office.
