The Review Thread (possible SPOILERS)
Dec 24, 2013 9:58:40 GMT -5
Post by peanut80 on Dec 24, 2013 9:58:40 GMT -5
From Monsters & Critics...review is written by a woman ...I love her final comment
From DC Filmgirl
The Wolf of Wall Street marks the fifth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (previously Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island). I adore Martin Scorsese and I love Leonardo DiCaprio, so when these two team up for a film, it’s the purest movie magic of all and Wolf is probably my favorite of the five films. Yes, that’s right, I just said The Wolf of Wall Street is better than The Departed. Here’s why.
Scorsese’s film is three hours of pure madness and I loved every minute of it. It goes by so quickly and when it ended, I wanted more. There’s a lot of nudity, drug use, sex and a few scenes of violence. Leo is in every minute of the film and honestly, he’s never been better.
Based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the story of crooked stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), his rise to the top of the stock exchange in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and his fall into prison because of crime and corruption
We are first introduced to a young Jordan (a mild-mannered DiCaprio) as he is starting out his stock market training. Big-time stockbroker Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey) takes young Jordan under his wing (and Zen factor) and shows him the ropes of the stock exchange. When Jordan loses his job fairly quickly, he begins to apply elsewhere and with the help of a new associate Donnie (Jonah Hill), the two hustle up some old buddies and start their own business.
DiCaprio gives the best performance of the year from any actor. The range he goes through, as an actor is incredibly good. The scene where he arrives to the country club while extremely high on a particular drug is the craziest and funniest scene I’ve seen in film all year. Seriously, it’s so funny, that I was crying laughing. For that scene alone, I hope the Academy honors him this year with at least a nomination, because he deserves the gold for this performance.
The rest of the supporting actors are amazing including Jonah Hill as Jordan’s best friend and fellow slimy stockbroker, he and DiCaprio have fantastic buddy-buddy chemistry; the beautiful Margot Robbie, who we saw in the short lived series “Pan Am,” is surprisingly wonderful as Jordan’s sweet, but complicated wife; Kyle Chandler is the FBI agent who has one of the best scenes of the film while he and DiCaprio are on a yacht; Rob Reiner is Jordan’s hard-knocking, yet understanding father; and Matthew McConaughey is only in the film for about 10 minutes and gives such a memorable performance as Jordan’s first money-hungry boss, who teaches him the ropes of wall street
The film was expertly photographed by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Argo & We Bought a Zoo) and cut together miraculously by Scorsese’s trusted editor Thelma Schoonmaker (Hugo & Shutter Island). What was originally a four-hour long film and talk of a possible NC-17 rating turned into a three-hour long film and a hard R-rating.
The Wolf of Wall Street is one of the year’s best films and sadly won’t be recognized as such because of the late screenings among several critics groups. DiCaprio has never been better and it’s clear that Scorsese and DiCaprio’s relationship is stronger and more trusted than ever. It’s especially clear in some of the insane scenes that DiCaprio was doing in this film! Well Leo, you have my vote and this is one film that I absolutely can’t wait to see again in theatres and on Blu-ray.
dcfilmgirl.com/the-wolf-of-wall-street-review/
Scott Renshaw's video "Wolf" review : 3.75 stars
fox13now.com/2013/12/24/scott-renshaw-movie-review-2/
Scorsese’s frenetic hallucinogenic and cocaine-fueled paean to greed runs 180 minutes and you’d never know it. The story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) seems to fly by, raising the heart rate at every turn, retelling for the umpteenth time the American success story in some of the same ways as David O. Russell’s American Hustle.
But Scorsese’s camera is truly alive whooshing about giving Leo an extra splash of energy – as if it was needed! The style and content are standard Scorsese fare but it’s always fun to see how he rejigs the concept fort each decade.
The film features one of the most memorable sequences of the entire year, in which a severely doped up DiCaprio crawling across a country club lobby, down a staircase and across a road and somehow spilling himself up and into his Lamborghini and driving home. Shockingly reckless and brazen and so deeply entertaining! The image will stay in my memory forever. Who else but Scorsese and DiCaprio would pull this off so masterfully?
Belfort’s morally flawed, of course, it’s a Scorsese film, he’s greedy, and a womanizer, a liar and trickster, but one admired enough to be dubbed The Wolf of Wall Street and become a media darling. Belfort’s unhindered imagination and verve get him where he wants to go, but what he does is illegal, smoke and mirrors, the sizzle sans streak, based solely on his personality and gift for gab.
From boiler room to fabulously successful stock brokerage in under 60 seconds; that’s his story and the pacing of the film is faithfully swift. Speed is the crux of the story. In a classic case of bullshit baffling brains, Belfort grabs the American Dream even as he self-destructs on drugs, lies and adrenaline because he can’t stop running. What makes Belfort run? Still not sure but what a fun ride and thank God it’s no one I know.
DiCaprio gives 110% as ever. Here that means plenty of physical work to express the effects of long term drug use and moral decay. The looks, the movements, the whole package, he takes big eye popping, brain exploding risks. It’s his fifth and film with Scorsese and its some kind of gritty, but high toned magic.
Margo Robbie puts in a strong performance as Belfort’s second wife, who knows there is nothing for her behind his drugged out glaze. Jonah Hill as Belfort’s partner is as strung out as he is. Belfort’s professional circle is comprised of his childhood friends, people he trusts to back him and cover his bad deeds without question. The characters actors do a great work and fit nicely into the DiCaprio/Scorsese milieu.
Joanna Lumley shows up as Belfort’s London connection. She puts him in his place with a stinging caution. Rob Reiner plays Belfort’s long suffering father who tries to steer him along a better path, unsuccessfully, and Fran Lebowitz shows up as the judge. Fun times.
But more than fun, The Wolf of Wall Street is an extreme cautionary tale and a slam against outsized thinkers, and those who would have it all for themselves. It’s poetic, profound, hilarious and tragic, it’s the American way. It has plenty in common with American Hustle, but Scorsese’s version wins. Someone always has to win, that too is how things are done.
- See more at: www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/reviews/article_1719673.php/Wolf-of-Wall-Street-#sthash.ADrDUbe4.dpuf
But Scorsese’s camera is truly alive whooshing about giving Leo an extra splash of energy – as if it was needed! The style and content are standard Scorsese fare but it’s always fun to see how he rejigs the concept fort each decade.
The film features one of the most memorable sequences of the entire year, in which a severely doped up DiCaprio crawling across a country club lobby, down a staircase and across a road and somehow spilling himself up and into his Lamborghini and driving home. Shockingly reckless and brazen and so deeply entertaining! The image will stay in my memory forever. Who else but Scorsese and DiCaprio would pull this off so masterfully?
Belfort’s morally flawed, of course, it’s a Scorsese film, he’s greedy, and a womanizer, a liar and trickster, but one admired enough to be dubbed The Wolf of Wall Street and become a media darling. Belfort’s unhindered imagination and verve get him where he wants to go, but what he does is illegal, smoke and mirrors, the sizzle sans streak, based solely on his personality and gift for gab.
From boiler room to fabulously successful stock brokerage in under 60 seconds; that’s his story and the pacing of the film is faithfully swift. Speed is the crux of the story. In a classic case of bullshit baffling brains, Belfort grabs the American Dream even as he self-destructs on drugs, lies and adrenaline because he can’t stop running. What makes Belfort run? Still not sure but what a fun ride and thank God it’s no one I know.
DiCaprio gives 110% as ever. Here that means plenty of physical work to express the effects of long term drug use and moral decay. The looks, the movements, the whole package, he takes big eye popping, brain exploding risks. It’s his fifth and film with Scorsese and its some kind of gritty, but high toned magic.
Margo Robbie puts in a strong performance as Belfort’s second wife, who knows there is nothing for her behind his drugged out glaze. Jonah Hill as Belfort’s partner is as strung out as he is. Belfort’s professional circle is comprised of his childhood friends, people he trusts to back him and cover his bad deeds without question. The characters actors do a great work and fit nicely into the DiCaprio/Scorsese milieu.
Joanna Lumley shows up as Belfort’s London connection. She puts him in his place with a stinging caution. Rob Reiner plays Belfort’s long suffering father who tries to steer him along a better path, unsuccessfully, and Fran Lebowitz shows up as the judge. Fun times.
But more than fun, The Wolf of Wall Street is an extreme cautionary tale and a slam against outsized thinkers, and those who would have it all for themselves. It’s poetic, profound, hilarious and tragic, it’s the American way. It has plenty in common with American Hustle, but Scorsese’s version wins. Someone always has to win, that too is how things are done.
- See more at: www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/reviews/article_1719673.php/Wolf-of-Wall-Street-#sthash.ADrDUbe4.dpuf
From DC Filmgirl
The Wolf of Wall Street marks the fifth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (previously Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island). I adore Martin Scorsese and I love Leonardo DiCaprio, so when these two team up for a film, it’s the purest movie magic of all and Wolf is probably my favorite of the five films. Yes, that’s right, I just said The Wolf of Wall Street is better than The Departed. Here’s why.
Scorsese’s film is three hours of pure madness and I loved every minute of it. It goes by so quickly and when it ended, I wanted more. There’s a lot of nudity, drug use, sex and a few scenes of violence. Leo is in every minute of the film and honestly, he’s never been better.
Based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the story of crooked stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), his rise to the top of the stock exchange in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and his fall into prison because of crime and corruption
We are first introduced to a young Jordan (a mild-mannered DiCaprio) as he is starting out his stock market training. Big-time stockbroker Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey) takes young Jordan under his wing (and Zen factor) and shows him the ropes of the stock exchange. When Jordan loses his job fairly quickly, he begins to apply elsewhere and with the help of a new associate Donnie (Jonah Hill), the two hustle up some old buddies and start their own business.
DiCaprio gives the best performance of the year from any actor. The range he goes through, as an actor is incredibly good. The scene where he arrives to the country club while extremely high on a particular drug is the craziest and funniest scene I’ve seen in film all year. Seriously, it’s so funny, that I was crying laughing. For that scene alone, I hope the Academy honors him this year with at least a nomination, because he deserves the gold for this performance.
The rest of the supporting actors are amazing including Jonah Hill as Jordan’s best friend and fellow slimy stockbroker, he and DiCaprio have fantastic buddy-buddy chemistry; the beautiful Margot Robbie, who we saw in the short lived series “Pan Am,” is surprisingly wonderful as Jordan’s sweet, but complicated wife; Kyle Chandler is the FBI agent who has one of the best scenes of the film while he and DiCaprio are on a yacht; Rob Reiner is Jordan’s hard-knocking, yet understanding father; and Matthew McConaughey is only in the film for about 10 minutes and gives such a memorable performance as Jordan’s first money-hungry boss, who teaches him the ropes of wall street
The film was expertly photographed by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Argo & We Bought a Zoo) and cut together miraculously by Scorsese’s trusted editor Thelma Schoonmaker (Hugo & Shutter Island). What was originally a four-hour long film and talk of a possible NC-17 rating turned into a three-hour long film and a hard R-rating.
The Wolf of Wall Street is one of the year’s best films and sadly won’t be recognized as such because of the late screenings among several critics groups. DiCaprio has never been better and it’s clear that Scorsese and DiCaprio’s relationship is stronger and more trusted than ever. It’s especially clear in some of the insane scenes that DiCaprio was doing in this film! Well Leo, you have my vote and this is one film that I absolutely can’t wait to see again in theatres and on Blu-ray.
dcfilmgirl.com/the-wolf-of-wall-street-review/
Scott Renshaw's video "Wolf" review : 3.75 stars
fox13now.com/2013/12/24/scott-renshaw-movie-review-2/