Absolutely Insane in the Best Possible Way

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street was absolutely insane in the best possible way. Words that describe this three hour movie experience: Outrageous. Wild. Crazy. Hilarious. Smart. Masterpiece.
I'm obsessed with Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. WOWS is reminiscent of that film-narratively and thematically-and in my opinion it exceeds even that masterpiece of filmmaking. Yes, WOWS is my new favorite Scorsese movie. Leonardo DiCaprio has said that with WOWS, Scorsese has inadvertently finished a film trilogy that began with Goodfellas and Casino. I agree; all three Scorsese films are told in the same manner and offer glimpses into seedy subcultures of American society. If you love Goodfellas and Casino, you'll love WOWS.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a genius performance as Jordan Belfort, the titular character, who makes a fortune through his self-made stocks company. Jordan narrates the story of his life, which is full of law- breaking, drug using, sex, and an ongoing FBI investigation into Jordan's illegal money making practices. Jonah Hill plays Donnie Azoff, Jordan's humorous and outlandish business partner. Margot Robbie gives a star-making performance as Jordan's second wife. Rounding out the cast are Rob Reiner, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau, Jean Dujardin, and Joanna Lumley. All the performances are stellar. There's never a dull moment and as the three hours sped by, I found myself laughing almost constantly. The editing is superb and fast-paced. Scorsese has created some truly memorable sequences.
I hope WOWS gets some love this awards season, because it's highly deserving of it. I found it to be far superior to The Departed, Scorsese's 2006 film that won Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards. So, if there's any justice, WOWS will snag these awards as well. DiCaprio and Hill deserve to take home the gold for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Whatever the results of awards season, WOWS will stand the test of time. It's a period piece that's extremely relevant and modern. It's sure to become a classic.