Usually, this is where I summarize the film. Here, I don't think it's necessary. It's about a stock broker who is addicted to drugs and sex, and has more money than he knows what to do with. He's also a horrible person. There you go. There's your synopsis. Now let's get to the review already.
The Wolf of Wall Street would not work as a drama, which means it's a good thing that it's a comedy. In fact, this is probably the year's funniest movie, at least of the ones that I've seen. It's crude, it's crass, and it's excessive-and it knows that. That's its point. These people were crude, crass, and excessive, as stated in the source material. Scorsese's direction contains all the energy needed to make something like this work. It's completely over-the-top, and it relishes in its excess. That makes it hilarious.
The dialogue is wonderful. It's a style that has inspired many copycats, including American Hustle, a movie which I also really liked. Compared to that movie, The Wolf of Wall Street has simpler characters, but not necessarily worse. These characters are textured, if not layered. Here, they're just awful people-and that has turned some people off, but it wasn't an issue for me. The characters are still wildly entertaining, they're just not complex.
This is the work of an auteur, make no mistake. It's not necessarily something to be analyzed, but it's so strongly stylistic that it carries a unique touch that is undeniably compelling. It's certainly excessive, and the characters are awful people, but the movie isn't weighed down by that. Indeed, it thrives on these elements.
All in all, The Wolf of Wall Street is brilliant. Had I seen it earlier, it might have made my top 10 list. As it stands, it's still a fantastic piece of film, and one that is certainly worth watching..
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