The Wolf of Wall Street

Cast of Characters:

Jordan Belfort - Leonardo DiCaprio

Donnie Azoff - Jonah Hill

Naomi Lapaglia - Margot Robbie

Mark Hanna - Matthew McConaughey

Patrick Denham - Kyle Chandler

Max Belfort - Rob Reiner

Brad Bodnick - Jon Bernthal

Manny Riskin - Jon Favreau

Jean-Jacques Saurel - Jean Dujardin

Director - Martin Scorsese

Screenplay - Terence Winter

Based on the memoir The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

Rated R for sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence

      Academy Award nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey and Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin star in the legendary Oscar winning director Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street.

      In 1987, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) became a Wall Street stockbroker under the tutelage of the lavish and charismatic Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey). To those that know their history, October 19, 1987, was a bad time for Belfort when the stock market experienced its worst crash since the Great Depression, known as "Black Monday". Needing to find work fast, Belfort lands back on his feet working for a low-level investor center that sells penny stocks. With his ability to aggressively sell hard and fast, Belfort becomes an instantaneous success within the company.

      Now back on his feet, Jordan befriends Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) and together they create Stratton Oakmont. Soon a billion dollar company, Belfort has it all but lacks the discipline to handle it as he winds up addicted to cocaine and Quaaludes, committing adultery and securities fraud, the latter of which attracts the attention of FBI Agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler).

      Based on the real-life Jordan Belfort's memoir of the same name, The Wolf of Wall Street was one of my most anticipated films of the year for two obvious reasons: Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. Whether it's Gangs of New York (which should've won Best Picture), The Aviator or The Departed, you can almost never go wrong with those two. I say almost 'cause Shutter Island wasn't good, but even the greatest filmmakers have a flop once in a while. This film is sexual, crazy, funny, satirical, chaotic, out of control and gradually gets darker and darker as the film progresses. It's easily the closest we'll ever see to Martin Scorsese filming a movie like Spring Breakers. At running just a minute shy of three hours, Scorsese keeps the ball rolling at a fast pace, never slowing down a single moment. Three hours might seem like an eternity for some moviegoers, but believe me when I say I was never bored. That's Scorsese for you, though. I don't think I've ever watched a movie of his that felt like it dragged. Following his snubbed performance as the charming yet loathsome Calvin J. Candie, DiCaprio within no time made me forget that he was in that crap pile known as The Great Gatsby earlier this year (he wasn't the reason for it being horrible though). DiCaprio does what he does best. He's likeable, vulnerable, complex and at times acts like an undisciplined child in a grown man's body. He'll also once again probably get snubbed by the Academy again, and then finally win one for supporting actor in one of those "and Leonardo DiCaprio" type roles years down the road when he's like 76 and they feel "he's finally due"... but I digress. It's not just DiCaprio that sells it either. It's the entire cast. When you sign on for a film by one of the greatest, if not the greatest filmmaker ever, you better bring your A-game. Jonah Hill is knee-slapping hysterical as Belfort's crazy, drug addled stock partner Donnie Azoff. I still remember watching that God awful Accepted movie with him and Justin Long, thinking just how annoying Hill was and it took a few movies later (small roles in Knocked Up  and Funny People) to where he started to grow on me. Then I saw Moneyball, where I finally realized this man can act. Now having a Scorsese film under his belt, I really hope to see Hill continue this trend. Matthew McConaughey continues his award worthy year with what is essentially an extended cameo, but boy does he sell the hell out of it in the few scenes he's in. The great film director Rob "Meathead" Reiner shows up as Leo's dad in a couple of scenes. Jon Bernthal is very effective in a smaller supporting role that makes me believe he can have a very solid film career following The Walking Dead. Kyle Chandler and Oscar winner Jean Dujardin pop up as the FBI Agent tracking Belfort and Belfort's Swiss banker respectively, and then there's Margot Robbie. Up until this movie, she was only in two other films. Very little experience, but I was impressed with how well she stood her own up against DiCaprio (who, even at just under 40, is the film's "veteran presence"). It's not just a pretty face that strips down and gets all the boys in the theater room excited. She's sexy for sure, but also fiercely independent and there's one funny scene in particular where she shows just how much she's got Belfort wrapped around her finger like it's nothing.

      Some might be turned off by the excessive nature of the film and the running time, but there wasn't a single moment that ever felt out of place and you can only wonder what this film would've looked like if Scorsese lost his battle with the studio who wanted him to cut the running time down. I'm glad he won though 'cause I absolutely loved every single second of this 179 minute film. It's not Scorsese's best film. He'll have to move heaven and earth practically to ever outdo Raging Bull. It's certainly his wildest though, the most entertaining time I've had at the movies this year, depicting the dangers of excess in a satirical and stylistic manner we haven't seen from him before. I give The Wolf of Wall Street an A+ (★★★★).

      Starting in January 2014, my reviews will now be at my new site, silverscreenfanatic.com. I encourage anyone to stop by and check it out, the first post coming on the 1st of the month. I can't thank enough those of you around the world who stopped by to read my reviews throughout this year. I'm looking forward to this new site (this blog will still remain open to read), and to another great year in film. Hope you all have a safe and happy new year. I'll see you in 2014!