I haven't been this excited to see a movie and write a review this year since The Great Gatsby. But then again, I'm always eager to see another DiCaprio movie! There is certainly a lot of hype and controversy surrounding this film. But the fact is, Martin Scorsese's latest work, The Wolf of Wall Street, is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece.
The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the book of the same title, tells the story of the eager stockbroker, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). Ever since he was a child, all he wanted to do was become filthy rich. Where better to go than Wall Street? Along with his trusty sidekick, Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), they start selling stocks to the top 1% of Americans. They make millions of dollars, but their greed gets out of hand. Eventually, they start making even more money, but in order to do so, they need to start breaking some laws. Jordan refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case conducted by the FBI, leading to the epic rise and fall of 'The Wolf of Wall Street.'
If there's a bad script, then no matter how good everything else is, the movie will be weak. Fortunately, screenwriter Terence Winter was a genius with the script. It is downright hilarious, and he has created some excellent one liners that will never be forgotten. The film features a lot of speeches that are delivered by DiCaprio, and had they been written poorly, it would have been boring to listen. But the speeches are so well-written and delivered with dynamic force that you as an audience member even get pumped up and motivated.
Martin Scorsese may be old, but that doesn't mean he can't keep up with the times. The movie feels so fresh. The editing that was done makes the movie feel so fast paced, like you are actually on the crazy journey with Belfort. The Wolf of Wall Street is a three-hour long epic story, but it doesn't feel that long. The first two hours of the film literally fly by. However, the last hour does drag a little bit. By this point in the film, things start to get a bit repetitive. Unfortunately, that's how it was in the book, so that's how it was done in the movie. But, this slight pacing issue towards the end doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the movie.
Regardless of your thoughts on the film overall, few will question the acting ability of Leonardo DiCaprio after watching this movie. Make no mistake, while there may be a strong supporting cast, this is undoubtedly DiCaprio's movie. He is in nearly ever scene from start to finish, and he delivers his best performance to date. I have seen every Leonardo DiCaprio movie, and he has had to tackle some difficult roles, like Howard Hughes in The Aviator, Jim Carroll in The Basketball Diaries, Arnie Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and Calvin Candie in Django Unchained. But nothing compares to this role as Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio is pushed to the limit with this character, and he succeeds on every level. While some may not expect it, he is actually a comedic genius in this movie, and he will have audiences roaring with laughter in the Country Club scene. He is dynamic and funny, and he almost make you root for Jordan even though the character is despicable. In sum, I have literally nothing to criticize for his performance in this movie.
Even though DiCaprio steals the film, there is still a strong supporting cast worth mentioning. Jonah Hill is also hilarious in this movie, and he and DiCaprio actually make a great duo. Margot Robbie, who plays Jordan's wife in the movie, delivers a breakthrough performance. She is a surprising good actress and I look forward to more of her work. Matthew McConaughey also has a small role in the film. Even though he only gets about 10 minutes of screen time, he gives a memorable performance as Belfort's mentor. The rest of the cast also does a fine job, and there is no single person that falls short of giving it their all.
The Wolf of Wall Street will undoubtedly be the most crazy three hours you'll ever spend watching a movie, and you'll either love it or hate it. It pushes the R-rating to the limit, and had Scorsese not been the director, this movie would have easily gotten an NC-17 rating for all of the sex and nudity every 15 minutes. It's extravagant, over-the-top, vulgar, and despite it's repetitive nature towards the end, a lot of fun to watch. If the first four collaborations between Scorsese and DiCaprio didn't show it clear it enough, this film will definitely showcase that the two make a perfect cinematic duo. The Wolf of Wall Street is easily one of the best films of 2013 and should be seen at least once.
RATING: 4.8 / 5
This film is rated R (sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence)
* As a bonus, not only does DiCaprio act incredibly well in this movie, he also can dance!
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