The Wolf of Wall Street

To be honest, I was somehow speechless after I saw this movie. This film is a proper Scorsese, but on the other hand, it’s not something that I would be happy to remember. You see, the movie is a cruel reflection of the kind of society created by capitalism. That is of the kind of world we live in. And believe me, it’s not a pleasant sight. And that’s despite the fact that there’s plenty of fun and the acting performances are flawless. Having said that, I never want to see The Wolf of Wall Street again. Seeing naked reality is sometimes painful and I’m not able to accept such reality again. And the worst part is that it’s all based on real events. Nevertheless, there is one thing I have to admit. The guy the story was based on was a hell of a businessman. But that was probably the only thing he had going for him. (24/01/2014)

A three-hour long joyride full of sex and cocaine, cool and base at the same time, trying to hide behind the proverb “sow the wind, reap the whirlwind”. I enjoyed myself immensely and I’ll definitely watch this again, but I don’t consider one dramatic scene (with the daughter in the car) to be enough for a three-hour film. The Wolf of Wall Street has perfect catchphrases and is never boring, but it made me realize that this type of Scorsese movie (starting with Casino) is great to watch but won’t leave you with lasting impression. Shutter Island, dark and mystical, perfectly escalated, with a surprising, sophisticatedly ambiguous ending, is much closer to my heart, and I consider it Scorcese’s masterpiece. (16/01/2014)

What surprised me, and not in a very good way, is that Scorece’s position towards the protagonist is neutral, as if he was saying that ripping people off, doing drugs and shagging whores is kind of fine. That's a pretty big problem for me, as a die-hard idealist. So far, none of Scorsese's films have lacked some kind of catharsis at the end, unfortunately I didn't get it here. I acknowledge the fantastic filmmaking, which on more than one occasion managed to elicit a relieved laugh from me, but otherwise I'd always prefer the stupid postmen who can only afford penny stocks over cunts like Jordan Belfort and his wolf pack. This farce is actually very far from a complex fresco telling something about something. (16/01/2014)

Fear and loathing in New York. Good old Scorsese remains true to himself, yet he’s rejuvenated through over-the-top decadent stylization, speech and, indeed, the content of individual scenes. It begins as a cynically satirical and amoral demystification of the American capitalist dream, not unlike There Will Be Blood. It continues as a pure junkie comedy on par with Trainspotting. And it ends with a variation on Catch Me If You Can. And as incompatible as these individual threads may seem, Scorsese's (and, in no small part, DiCaprio's) greatest achievement is that it all feels like one cohesive whole. This is also due to the fact that there isn’t a moment to exhale for three hours; at least for the duration of projection. After that, you have to be honest that even though there isn't a single boring or bad scene in it, some could stand being edited out. It also depends on whether you think that Scorsese is glorifying Belfort or that he is satirically doing the exact opposite. But damn it, it's such outrageous fun, with something for everyone; from freakin’ self reflection through its frickin’ cinephilic form to fuckin’ gut-busting scenes. (27/12/2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street has rightfully become one of the most important events of the season. It accurately captures the atmosphere of a time marked by an economic crisis and surprises with the realization that not everyone tightens their belts equally during times of need and that human justice falls short when it comes to certain assholes, whose rhinoceros hides are evidently impenetrable. If nothing else, we will take revenge on them on the silver screen. The Wolf of Wall Street is reminiscent of a wild party, from which, aside from the exhilarating feeling of tasting forbidden fruit and crossing the boundaries of socially acceptable behavior, you will likely remember only a few shocking escapades and excesses after a few days. The film depicts a series of parties, revelry, drug trips, and an insatiable desire for wealth in a somewhat stereotypical and thus tiresome manner. It tells the story of a group of brokers who do not hesitate to destroy the lives of naive clients with offers of worthless stocks from obscure companies. The film is reminiscent of Lord of War and Trainspotting with its absence of moral dimension and final catharsis. In all three cases, we are dealing with scoundrels who ultimately succeed and get away with it, despite minor setbacks and losses. Scorsese proves that old age does not necessarily mean a loss of connection with modern cinema. Quite the opposite, as the same can be said for him as for vintage wines - the older, the better. He rivals Fincher in camera skills, enjoys crowd scenes, and effortlessly handles action sequences, such as sinking a yacht in a stormy sea. He varies the rhythm and slows down the shots, and a single detail can reveal more about his characters than any other director could describe in an entire film. A separate chapter is dedicated to DiCaprio's performance in the lead role. Villains are always more rewarding for actors. DiCaprio revels in the role of a cynical, unscrupulous businessman, delightfully showcasing his boundless hedonism, narcissism, and manipulativeness. It is said that when actors enjoy filming, the audience cries over their paychecks, and vice versa. This is clearly not the case here. Both DiCaprio and Jonah Hill clearly enjoyed the overdose scene, which is brilliantly comical and will likely become a revered classic among film fans. DiCaprio promises, seduces, bribes, and threatens, and above all, presents a study of a man obsessed with himself and navigating an endless drug trip. Despite the aforementioned, I have to give it the highest rating. The Wolf of Wall Street is like a hyperactive, self-centered child that persistently demands attention. Its coolness eventually becomes tiresome. Paradoxically, I realized that I would have enjoyed the film more with a shorter runtime and fewer gags. Overall impression: 85%. (22/01/2014)