Dear Write Readers,
Do you like movies with hookers and blow?
If you do, The Wolf of Wall Street is the film of the year! Likely to be nominated for Best Picture for the 2014 Academy Awards, Martin Scorsese’s beast of a film has created quite a stir this holiday season. Having broken the all time record for number of F-bombs dropped in an R-rated film (506, to be exact), you’re either going to love this film, or hate it.
Having said that, I felt very middle-of-the-road about it. The premise is simple: we watch the whole of Jordan Belfort’s life from his wholesome start in stocks, to his ultimate fall into prison (although as Belfort reminds us, he’s rich, so prison life for him involves leisurely walks and playing tennis). When he finally gets out of the slammer, Belfort becomes a motivational speaker, teaching people all over the world how to get rich (and presumably scam everyone they’ve never met) just like him.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays an incredible version of super-sleazy Mr. Belfort. I have actually been heard uttering the phrase, “his best work” when discussing DiCaprio’s performance in this film. He is charismatic, and creates a charming yet disgusting man who knows how to get what he wants, and has no conscience. The former Titanic star is brilliant. I can’t say better things about DiCaprio’s performance. It takes a pro to convince an audience member they should be rooting for a man who is, at one point during the film, attempting to smuggle twenty million dollars that he stole from innocent people into a Swiss bank account so he can keep his yacht and avoid federal charges. It’s absolutely incredible. I found myself hoping the police wouldn’t catch Belfort. Who thinks that way? I mean, really.
The other noteworthy performance of the film came from Jonah Hill, who plays Belfort’s equally gross and drug-addicted partner, Donnie Azoff. I don’t know about you, but I was surprised when I saw the trailer for this film. I’ve never seen any of Jonah Hill’s more serious work, so I couldn’t quite figure out why a great funny man like him would be cast in this kind of a role. Trust me- he’s amazing. Every minute of his presence on screen is funny, but not the kind of comedy we’re used to seeing from Mr. Hill. He’s compelling, and hysterical, and completely believable. Jonah Hill’s authenticity is mind boggling. I have met guys like Donnie Azoff, and never hope to again. But for better or for worse, Donnie is made real. On a side note – any moment when Donnie is high is phenomenal acting. I’ve never been high, so I wouldn’t know what it feels like, but I do know it takes a pro to accurately portray a person under the influence of any kind of substance (and/or high out of their mind). It wasn’t stereotypical; it felt authentic and honest. I just hope Jonah Hill is not a method actor; I don’t want to rescind my awe and appreciation.
I’m sure you recall just a few moments ago that I told you I felt middle-of-the-road about this film. So it makes very little sense for me to rave about the acting performances a few sentences later, right? What’s difficult about watching this film is that Scorsese doesn’t have an opinion about these characters. Most films about bad guys have a clear lens. The director wants you to not like them. They are villains, and no matter how fun they are, at the end of the day, you’re hoping they go to jail for their crimes. Not so much the case with The Wolf of Wall Street. It feels as though Scorsese is completely neutral. He tells the story as he received it, as authentically and honestly as possible. It’s sometimes graphic, although tasteful enough to avoid an NC-17 rating (which really, it could have gotten in the hands of a different director), and it doesn’t pull any punches. If you don’t like it, I feel like none cast would have cared. They would have kept screwing hookers while giving you the finger as you walked out the door. So, it’s easy to say this film is amazing, because the filming and performances are amazing – hands down, no questions about it. But, it’s hard to say this film is amazing, because that would mean that I, on some level, am getting behind Jordan Belfort and his team, and supporting the terrible things they did to embezzle the life savings of thousands of blue-hairs. Belfort still owes $100,000 in restitution he hasn’t paid, and yet he’s making royalties off of his books, self-help seminars, and this film that I paid money to go see. I feel ashamed to have been a part of this fiasco in some way, and yet, the quality of the movie itself is up there with some of the best I’ve seen.
So what’s not good about it? There’s got to be something, right? Well, maybe the answer is everything. But specific to the film making, the biggest problem with this movie is that it’s three, very long hours. I don’t think the editor did his or her best work the day he or she finished this film. It could have easily lost a half hour, perhaps even more. There were a number of scenes where I was like, “yeah great, you’re high on “leuds or coke, you’re having sex with people you aren’t married to, you’re screwing people over, let’s move it along here.” You wouldn’t think you’d get bored of scandalous shenanigans, but it’s actually possible in this movie. Scorsese and the gang begin desensitizing you from the first few lines.
When all is said and done, it’s a great film about a terrible man who did terrible things. It’s never going to be for kids, and probably not for a lot of adults. You have to be ready to get comfortable with lots of swearing, lots of nudity, lots of on-screen sex and worse (to me), on-screen drug use. Every single thing that we teach people about smart choices and morality gets unceremoniously thrown out the window, and, in order to enjoy this film, I highly suggest a little mental preparation. Whether it’s angry driving on your way to the theatre, or muttering curses under your breath at slow walkers, get your game face on – get ready for one of the most (horrible, awful) excellent films of 2013.
**If you’re interested in a different perspective of the viewing of The Wolf, check out this Huffington Post article.
Live, Love, Learn,