No, it is not a horror film where a Wall Street broker turns into a werewolf. Neither is it a feature film where ‘Wolf Street’ is focused ala Michael Douglas starrers. The Wolf of Wall Street is a dark comedy based on the rise and fall of a slippery stockbroker Jordan Belfort who became enormously wealthy by not conforming to the rules. He cheated everyone he came in contact with – excluding his friends -including his wives and lived a royal life!  How he manages to stay clear of the authorities is what this flick tells you, in director Martin Scorcese’s unique way!

Too long but not too slow!

The Wolf of Wall Street is painstakingly long by Hollywood standards (3 hours!) but the way the story progresses doesn’t let you feel that the movie is dragging. When you seem to be getting bored, there comes a scene that opens your eyes and keeps you awake till the next supercharged scene. It makes you want to get rich – filthy rich – and own a Ferrari, a yacht that has a helicopter on top and beautiful women on deck.

The film is undoubtedly one of the funniest movies Martin Scorcese has directed. Neither does it feature slapstick humour nor is it full of jokes, but every now and then, the writer has thrown in sequences that elicit a laugh or two from the audience. Be it the scene where drugs begin to take effect on the protagonist or where he sells shares on the phone in the midst of clueless brokers, the film has its moments. Even the scenes where DiCaprio falls into the swimming pool, hires the team or even rescues his choking friend are hilariously executed.

Moving money from the client’s pocket to your pocket!

Leonardo DiCaprio played a swindler in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can with Tom Hanks in tow, but in this flick, a lesser known actor – Kyle Chandler – portrays the FBI prosecutor who investigates the protagonist. There is just one scene where the two meet and discuss the future but more emphasis could have been put on the FBI agent, except the crappy Columbo-type angle that makes it to the final cut. Similarly, less importance is given to how the crimes were committed and more emphasis is put on showing how it was spent, secured and again, spent! The director does so because he wants to audience to love the ‘Wolf’, not for those who prey on his insecurity and are out to capture him.

‘I am not gonna die sober!’

The language in the movie is full of the ‘f—’  word while other vulgar words in the dictionary keep on emerging every now and then. Similarly, every single sex act you can think of (yes, every) is present in the flick although the moral police (read: censors) have cut them out to make the screening time less than 3 hours! There are violent scenes as well which don’t have the desired effect because of their funny execution – husband hitting wife, wife hitting back, friends hitting thief etc. The characters also take drugs – from A to Z – on screen and the abundance of chemical abuse makes the characters appear superhuman – or even like Popeye, as suggested in one of the scenes.

Leonardo, Leonardo and Leonardo!

When you have a director who trusts you and knows you like the back of his hand, things are likely to turn well. Same can be said of Leonardo DiCaprio who has been nominated for an Oscar as well as BAFTA for being truly superb in this anti-hero character. He lives the character he is portraying and for not one moment you wonder about him – the actor – because that’s what you don’t see on screen. He even breaks the fourth wall at times and talks directly to the audience, who can’t help but to agree with whatever he says.

The supporting cast also does well including Jonah Hill who plays the second lieutenant Donnie, Rob Reiner as the furiously moody father who loses cool when he misses  The Equalizer,  Margot Robbie as his superhot second wife and the always dependable Jon Favreau as the person who gives him the right advice, although it isn’t taken. Matthew McConaughey also makes a guest appearance as the mentor to Jordan and leaves a lasting impression. It would be interesting to see who wins the race to Oscar – both DiCaprio (for this flick) and McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) have been nominated in the Best Actor category!

The Martin Scorcese connection!

From the 70s till the 90s, it was Robert De Niro who was the actor for Martin Scorcese’s flicks – now it’s Leonardo DiCaprio. Before this flick, ‘Leo and Martin’ had worked together in Shutter Island (2010), The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004) and Gangs of New York (2002). Similarly De Niro had teamed up with his favourite director before that in Casino (1995), Cape Fear (1991), Goodfellas (1990), Raging Bull (1980), Taxi Driver (1976) and Mean Streets (1973). The common factor between the two great actors is Scorcese who keeps on churning hits after hits and doesn’t slow down even after spending more than 40 years in the business.

Verdict – Watch it for the richness!

The Wolf of Wall Street is a one-time experience since it takes you into the dark world of Wall Street where nothing is what it seems. Although it doesn’t defend the acts of Jordan Belfort, it doesn’t condemn them either. It shows the audience that dishonesty is bad but it can result in quick bucks and that’s what the movie is doing, making big bucks by bringing to the screen the parties, the orgies, the drug benders and the FBI in tow. It is for Leonardo DiCaprio that his fans will watch the movie; for the rest, it is an amazing piece of storytelling that shouldn’t be missed!