The Wolf of Wall Street

 

‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ book cover

This movie is based on the real life of Jordan Belfort. Mr. Belfort was the founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont in the early 90’s where sex, drugs and other people’s money was used and abused. The man was indicted and charged with securities fraud and money laundering in 1998 and served just under two years for some of his crimes.

‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ is based on the memoir Belfort wrote of the same name. There was also another movie loosely based on the goings on at Stratton Oakmont in the 90’s. The 2000 film ‘Boiler Room’ staring Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Scott Caan, Ben Affleck and my favorite ‘Wonder’ Tom Everett Scott, pulled from the same source material.

Martin Scorsese & Leonardo DiCaprio

This film marks the fifth time Martin Scorsese has worked with his muse Leonardo DiCaprio. I say ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The two work well together and Mr. Scorsese always gets the best performance out of Leo possible. They go together like peas and carrots.

Speaking of cast, this movie has a great one. It has the current hardest working man in Hollywood, Matthew McConaughey. Since 2011 the man has had 10 projects that have come out or are about to. That is an insane work schedule. Where does he find time for ‘livn’? Granted the work has been paying off, he has turned out some stellar performances; Killer Joe, Paperboy, Mud, Bernie, Magic Mike, all award worthy and a couple did win. One could argue this is the best work of his career so far. I am a fan, a big fan.

Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’

But he’s not the only other big name in this one. Jonah Hill (whose stock is sky rocketing), Jon Barnthal (might know him as ‘Shane’ from a little TV show called ‘The Walking Dead’), Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Spike Jonze, Ethan Suplee, Margot Robbie, and Cristin Milioti (Who ‘How I Met Your Mother’ fans will recognize as the titular Mother) to name a few of the stars in this one.

Jonah Hill

The talent in front of the camera is eclipsed only by the talent behind the camera. Mr. Scorsese is a legend. With any luck there might just be a couple more gold statues to take home early next year. Find ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ in US theaters mid-November.