Review of Wolf of Wall Street by Scorsese

There is a word that I have come to understand more deeply by watching Scorsese's latest picture Wolf of Wall Street. It was brought to my attention this past Summer when my Professor described the shirt I was wearing as "tacky." After watching Wolf I now know the meaning of "tacky." The whole movie could be described, from a sociological standpoint, as a study in "tackyness." The characters, the settings, the plot, the action, everything about it, tacky, tacky, tacky. So much tacky that I found myself shaking my head in disgust. The level of tackyness will not be surpassed by another film for quite some time. Yet, it is also a depiction of what a tacky person, with tacky ambitions, can become in a world so full of tackyness, that his tackyness is rendered inoccuous.

Yes the movie is funny on a level. In fact during the screening there were many laughs. I even laughed at some of the drug induced scenes. Mostly though I sat in disgust at the utter depravity with which Belfort and his colleagues lived. So much drugs and drinking, and sex, and an unhealthy obsession with money which was only used to do more drugs, drinking, and more sex which proved hilarious at times, on another level it portrays the worst part of Capitalist culture that has become so ingrained in how stockbrokers behave and conduct themselves. It's almost as if Scorsese is throwing up sex, drugs, and money to an audience that thinks it's funny, rather than disgusting. I must say that the American public, at least in the Northeast and Pacific Coast where the film was expected to do robust business, is as obsessed with those things as the characters in Wolf. Whoever said Europeans are obsessed with sex more so than Americans, clearly has not seen Wolf of Wall Street.

This film will surely rise to cult status in the Financial industry. Furthermore, it is a shining example of the deep divide in this country between the Liberal Northeast which tacitly accepts this behavior and it's depiction on the big screen against the more conservative South and Mid-west. In fact it was said that this movie would have trouble playing in the heartland. Luckily, I don't live in the heartland. I saw the movie at my local multiplex

If we are to analyze this film in comparison to other, shall I say, "stockbroker" films, than Stone's Wall Street is clearly an exercise in restraint by the standards of Wolf. Leonardo's character in Wolf is far more libidinous than Bud Fox or any of the crowd from Boiler Room. I think Wolf takes the gloves off. What is presented is an unsparing look at the under belly of Wall Street. It is almost like an investigative report done within a narrative structure of just under 3 hours. And how could it be more? The characters are all too shallow. There is no remorse for sleeping with prostitutes or bilking clients out of money. There is only more prostitutes, more bilking, and, for a short time frame, white collar jail. That's what these characters are all about. Infused with the gospel of capitalism all their deeds are deemed acceptable, in fact DiCaprio's character never gives off a hint of shame. And after it all comes down, he still lands on his feet being a sales coach.

Belfort, Leonardo's character, is so many young stockbrokers wet dream. He does so much drugs, so many women, he leads such a life of excess. He has everything; a big house, a ferrari, a yacht, but it's all fake. It's all very tacky. Nevertheless, whether it makes you disgusted or delirious, it's entertaining.