The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) movie review

The Wolf of Wall Street is entertaining and disgusting in equal measures and is one of the best films of this year.

The Wolf of Wall Street is a black comedy based on Jordan Belfort's memoir which was adapted to a screenplay by Terence Winter. Belfort is a former stockbroker who made millions by defrauding investors with fraudulent stock sales. Martin Scorsese is no stranger in dealing with complex characters, he already did it with characters like Travis Bickle and Jake LaMotta in his two masterpieces- Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. But unlike those two films, Scorsese injects comedy like he did with Goodfellas and thus prevents the film from becoming a serious drama. Since this film is a comedy, it may look like a movie glorifying the action of the characters, but it is not. It is a satire and Scorsese takes  great care that we laugh at the actions the characters make and not laugh with them.

The movie begins with Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) explaining to us (breaking the fourth wall, the same as Ray Liotta does at the end of 'Goodfellas') about his high octane life. Then suddenly, in true Scorsese fashion we are taken years back, when a jobless Jordan starts building his fraud empire with the help of  Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill). We follow him as he changes from a quiet, brilliant stockbrocker to a scheming, greedy, brilliant emperor. He meets, falls in love and eventually marries Naomi Lapaglia (Margot Robbie) but like everything in his life the marriage ends with a bang. Complicating problems are an FBI Agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler) and Belfort's own overconfidence and drug problems. As much as the movie is entertaining, it feels too long. Scorsese should have edited it more (The same problem could be found with 'The Gangs of New York'). Thus some scenes feel unnecessary and awkward, and this drags the movie down a bit.

Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio give powerful performances in every scene 

It can be said that 'The Wolf of Wall Street' is much different from other Scorsese films( Actually 'American Hustle' is more like his other films). It is his most colorful film yet after the drabness of 'The Departed', moody noir cinematography of 'Shutter Island' and the CGI influenced magical color palette of 'Hugo'. Martin Scorsese directs this movie with great energy and momentum and follows Belfort's life as it soars, flies and crashes. But this is not a movie about justice being served, it is more about the success which Belfort achieves and the insane partying and debauchery at the top.

DiCaprio and his band of mad stockbrokers show off their weird dancing skills

Kudos should be given to the performances given by the cast members. Leonardo DiCaprio is increasingly becoming the best actor for biopics( Howard Hughes, J.Edgar Hoover) and is pitch perfect. He plays his character with exaggeration and loudness, which perfectly blends in with the mad world the director has created around him. Give the man a Oscar, he has been snubbed many times (He was not even nominated for 'Django Unchained'!!). Jonah Hill is as incredible as he was in his oscar nominated performance in 'Moneyball'. Margot Robbie is a newcomer but she is excellent as Belfort's trophy wife, Naomi. There are a number of smaller characters all excellently performed by actors like Rob Reiner and Jon Bernthal. But the best acting apart from Caprio's was done by Matthew McConaughey, who absolutely ruled in his cameo(And introduced us to the catchy anthem).

'The Wolf of Wall Street' is Scorsese's best film since 'The Departed' and that is saying a lot. Only Scorsese can direct a movie like this, a one which which is filled to the brim with energy.

+DiCaprio's best performance yet

+Energetic script

+Wonderful cast

+Successfully avoids being tagged as a parody

--Some more editing should have been done

88-"Excellent"