What did you think of The Wolf of Wall Street?

[bartholen_v1legacy]

As per the title. Since the Oscars came and went and it's been out for a while in the rest of the world, I thought I'd ask this question.

In my opinion the hype was very, very undeserved. Oh sure, Scorsese's a great director, it had a lot of really fun stuff in it and the performances were phenomenal. I don't think it's a bad film by any means. But my foremost thoughts upon leaving the theatre were that the movie was way too long and that I'd seen the exact same movie at least twice before from Scorsese. I wasn't expecting it, but I sided more with Mark Kermode's view on the film [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot0KC1s1U1g] than any other critic's. Did we really need to see yet another scene of incessant partying, boozing and taking drugs when there's nothing separating it from the last 2 previous such scenes? Why should we care when the feds start snooping around if it won't have any consequences for at least 1,5 hours of the film? Why did Scorsese make the character have a sympathetic moment where he talks how he saved one of his employees from crushing debt, but doesn't bring up the dozens of victims who blew their life savings on the guy's bullshit scams?

It wasn't a bad movie, but certainly not the movie messiah it was hyped up to be. 3,5 stars. Sue me.

Your thoughts?

 

[TakerFoxx]

Personally, I felt it was the best anti-drug and anti-alcohol PSA I've ever seen. Ain't never gonna touch that stuff now. Nuh-uh, never.

Oh, you mean the movie? I don't know if it was Scorsese's best (personally I preferred Goodfellas) or even the best of the year, but on its own merits, I thought it was great, from a script-writing standpoint to all the actors who were clearly having the time of their lives playing these horrible people. I agree that all the partying felt like it went on too long, though just as my interest was starting to wane, that's when it hit that sudden dark turn and grabbed it back. Not a perfect film, but a very good one in its own right. Personally I'd give it 4 stars. But hey, different strokes for different folks.

Though on one side-note, I don't think that supposed "sympathetic" moment was meant to make him look good, but rather was showing the character trying to make himself look good while his other scenes had already shown what a horrible person he is, therefore further exposing him as a hypocrite.

 

[shootthebandit]

I think its a great film. I liked how it didnt go down the preachy or righteous route. I liked how the general theme was "hey look bad people do bad shit in order to make a shit ton of cash" "why?" "Because having a yacht with a helipad, a lambo, a trophy wife and a shit ton of drugs is fucking amazing".

The characters were horrible psychopaths but at the same time were hugely likable. Di caprio and Hill genuinely had me liking these people. I suppose its intended that the viewer is drawn in by his charm much like his victims. The film is similar to the george jung biopic "blow" and likewise johnny depp as george had a similar charm and similar aspirational lifestyle from his ill-gotten gains

 

[Eamar]

Eh, I felt it deserved the hype. I massively enjoyed it and thought it was exceptionally well made and acted. Prior to seeing Dallas Buyers Club it was my pick for the Oscar (though I figured it probably wouldn't win due to the R rating)

I'll concede that it felt a little long though.

 

[DishonoredElderSouls]

This is easily one of my favourite-ever movies. In all honesty, I loved the excess. I loved the nudity, I loved the swearing, I loved all of the drug consumption, I loved the big helicopter and the big yacht and the enormous office parties. I absolutely adored the seemingly unstoppable train of Heavenly gluttony that this film let its audience ride.

However, what I loved even more was the fear it instilled in me when the FBI threatened to end all of the fun imagery and fantasy I was getting from the film. Probably the best part of the movie is how Scorsese chose to force the viewer into the shoes of Belfort; you never see or care much for his victims because of course Belfort didn't, either. We see his employees celebrate him as a great man because that's, of course, how he felt, and what he aimed to disillusion himself with. And when the first two hours of awesome sex, sick cars, and weekend trips to Italy came to a close, I felt, much like Belfort, fear for what was to come in the next forty-five minutes of the movie. I didn't want the jokes and celebration to end. I cared much more about these people than I did their victims. And by the end of the movie, Belfort never really comes out and talks about how awful a person he was and how he plans on righting his wrongs- because it's quite possible he doesn't feel that way, at all. If you ever look up an interview with the guy, you won't hear him talk about being a monster. You'll hear him talk about business advice and being a "visionary" rather than "someone with a goal." The Wolf of Wall Street was a pure adventure through the mind of a sick, twisted, degenerate piece of filth, and it ends up being hilarious and lovable. That is what makes it such an immediate classic.

TWoWS made three hours feel like an hour and a half- that's something I have never said about any other movie.

 

[shootthebandit]

I'll concede that it felt a little long though.

I agree too, thankfully I downloaded it (legally of course), sitting in those cinema chairs without a break would be so uncomfortable. At least at home you csn pause it to get up for a smoke and put the kettle on

Im just wondering if anyone else actually like the characters? Or was it just me?