There is a long history of success when director Martin Scorsese and star Leonardo DiCaprio team up, and “The Wolf of Wall Street” may be one of their greatest accomplishments together. The film is a raucous, darkly enthralling and comedic look at American debauchery and excess, and one that keeps viewers entertained even with a running time of over three hours.
The movie, based on a true story, follows Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Departed”) as he begins a career in the stock market but is quickly put out of work when the market crashes. He starts his own stockbroking company based on luring unsuspecting patrons into buying large shares of worthless penny stocks, aided by partner Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”). Under Belfort’s charismatic confidence and immoral scheming, the company proffers as Belfort and his team become multi-millionaires, unhindered by the consequences of their decisions. But as Belfort grows wealthier and wealthier, the FBI catches wind that something is amiss and begins an investigation.
Perhaps one of the most striking things about the movie is how funny it is. The first two hours, especially, are a roller coaster of dark comedy, tempered by a few engrossing scenes of Belfort’s speeches to his employees or glimpses of elements of his life beginning to fall away through his “success.” The third act takes a suddenly darker tone, as the characters and viewers are thrust into the reality of the fallout from their choices and mistakes. The comedic overtones do not obscure, but instead emphasize, the film’s ultimate message. Its’ themes are not subtle or complex, but the comedic approach the movie takes serve to make them all the more poignant as Belfort brings investors to financial ruin, all the while thoroughly enjoying his power and position.
The success of the movie’s shocking and debaucherous humor is largely due to the the film’s actors. Belfort is reprehensible, a character with nothing redeeming about him. At no point is the audience meant to root for Belfort, yet DiCaprio still manages to capture the humanity of the character. It’s a role that demands talent in both comedic and dramatic acting, and DiCaprio is (surprisingly) exceptional in both areas, clearly letting himself go in certain scenes with outstanding results. Jonah Hill also stands out as Azoff, and the scene in which he is introduced is probably one of the best of the whole film.
Those who are uncomfortable with nudity or sex, however, should be warned. This R-rated film is a real “hard R,” filled with naked prostitutes, ubiquitous drug use and extended, graphic sex scenes. The inclusion of these elements is necessary to show the depravity of the film’s characters, and important for the movie to strike the proper notes, but Scorsese truly stretches it as far as he can while still ensuring the movie will be shown in American theatres.
Those with a without a strong bladder should also be warned. The movie’s three-hour length is noticeable, and there are certain scenes that seem to drag on a touch longer than necessary, begging for a quick clock check or bathroom break. However, it is hard to say where a cut would have been preferable or advisable, and the movie is so enjoyable the length is not really an issue.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” will likely not be an Oscar contender at the mercy of the elderly Academy members (Regretfully, this is also unlikely to be the picture that captures DiCaprio his long-overdue Oscar) but it is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year. With such stellar writing and acting across the board, viewers would be amiss to skip this movie in favor of the ones that will be receiving Academy Award nominations this year.
