Saturday, March 22, 2014

DVD Movie Review - The Wolf of Wall Street


Get ready to strap on your sick sense of humor, because The Wolf of Wall Street gives a new definition to the word obscene.  This movie is a raunchy roller coaster of up and down thrills, gut-busting hysterics, drug-induced decisions, and drunken debauchery that'll keep you laughing for three straight hours.

STORY:
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) wants to be a millionaire stockbroker, but legal stockbroking might take a little more time than he expected.  Using his suave looks, unbelievable charm and ability to sucker people into buying anything, he creates his own firm and leads a life filled with drugs, hookers, money, and entertainment beyond anyone's wildest imagination.  The kicker?  The story is true and the real Jordan Belfort has come out and said his life was even crazier than what was depicted on film.  Midget tossing, cocaine, sex, aged Quaaludes, cursing, spectacular drunk helicopter landings, underwear clad marching bands, and real life ridiculousness ensues.

"Do you see this?  I wipe my ass with exactly twelve of these a day."

THOUGHTS:
If last week's film, American Hustle, was the king of subtle humor, The Wolf of Wall Street is the complete other end of the comedy spectrum.  The crap that goes on in this film is so outrageous and unexpected that it'll keep you laughing and gagging on popcorn for hours.  This is the type of movie that after you've seen it, you'll want to show it and force it down everyone's throat, just so you can relive the jokes and unforgettable scenes over and over again.  The Wolf of Wall Street knows how ridiculous it is and uses that to its advantage.  Scorsese has DiCaprio talk directly to the audience, breaking the "Forth Wall", allowing the voice-over narrating to become some of the funniest dialogue you've ever heard.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been in so many fantastic films throughout his career that it's hard to pinpoint his greatest role…until now.  Watching him transition from a wet-behind-the-ears stocker broker to the power house that he becomes is acting at its finest.  He's unbelievably charismatic as Jordan Belfort, not to mention, funny, motivational, intelligent, slippery, outrageous, loud, and obnoxious.  If you enjoyed DiCaprio taking people for a ride in Catch Me If You Can, then this is just the next step up in the evolutionary ladder.  Even if you hate Leonardo, this movie will garner at least some respect after viewing.  He's perfect for the role and no one in Hollywood would have been able to come close to this comedic behavior.

"You really got a gift."
"Really I--"
"Yes, you do."
"No, seriously I just--"
"YES, YOU DO."

Not only is the humorous plot contagious, or the story remarkable, but the actors/actresses are having the time of their life shooting this film.  Jonah Hill dons gigantic white teeth, scary wide eyes, and curly hair to mend perfectly into Jordan's pedophile-looking right-hand man.  His scenes involving hookers and drugs are unmatched in their hilarity.  McConaughey stops by for a quick cameo that's equal parts weird, truthful, disgusting, and whimsical.  He plays the man that first introduces Jordan to stocks and drugs, and also helps explain how the whole operation is nothing more than fairy dust.  Jon Bernthal from the Walking Dead lands his funniest role yet, as Jordan's boy, Brad, who’s the Quaalude king of his hometown and spends his free time weightlifting and respecting his own biceps.  Rob Reiner is perfect as Jordan's father and the firm's enforcer of sane behavior.  He tries to be the voice of reason for his son, but never quite accomplishes his goal.  And last but not least, is Margot Robbie, who plays Jordan's ex-model trophy wife.  Her accent and mannerisms of a tough New York woman, only fall second to her beauty and amazing ability to make any ordinary lingerie, absolutely phenomenal.

"Zombies, Jonah...zombies!  They're everywhere."
"Cut!  Who gave Mr. DiCaprio another candy bar?  We all know sugar makes him rambunctious."

WHAT'S THE COST OF THE HUMOR & WHO WON'T WATCH IT:
This movie remains light and comedic even though it portrays some of the worst behavior for a human being on the planet.  You will have to take everything for face value though, and understand that living the way Jordan does can only lead to absolute failure at some point.  But the object here is to watch and enjoy the ride of a shooting star, because even the real Jordan Belfort sees this story as a comedy.

Another put-off of the film is the sheer determination to hold nothing back.  Everything is thrown at you in the first five minutes.  If you can't handle depictions of drugs and their effects, alcoholics, hookers, cursing every other word, full frontal and rear nudity, or just loud and obnoxious people in general, then this movie shouldn't even be in the same zip code as yourself.  It takes the film's "R" rating and pisses all over it and then douses it in alcohol and sets it on fire.  There's also plenty of sex contained within the movie, but not like the extreme erotica found in late night Cinemax.  No, even the sex scenes remain light and comedic.  So if you live in a convent, then odds are you won't be watching this film any time soon, if not at all.

"Are you sure her hand isn't in the shot?"
"Trust us, Leo, it's not in the shot."
"Cause it sure does feel like it's in the shot." 

CONCLUSION:
The Wolf of Wall Street is an addictive laugh riot.  Once you hit the play button, it's damn hard to press stop.  It'll be one of those movies that if it’s on TV, you'll tune in even if there are only a few minutes left.  Why…because there really isn't a dull minute throughout the three hours of film.  You'll even want more once it's over.  With fantastic acting, outrageous laughs, phenomenal music, and obnoxious dialogue, The Wolf of Wall Street is one of Scorsese's and DiCaprio's best movies to date.

5 out of 5 Stars (Aged Quaalude driving FTW)

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