Going all out

Rating: Null/10 (15 February 2014)

The narrative opens in a somewhat familiar manner, the protagonist introducing himself via VO in a "present" mode then flashes back to how he started. The substance (no pun intended) of this introduction however can be characterized as pulling all the plugs, going all out, with obscene (in more ways than one) riches, marathon sex and drug, drugs, drugs.
Then, the flashback shows Jordan Belfort's (Leonardo DiCaprio) entry into a prestigious Wall Street broker firm at the lowest rung, received by the a most obnoxious character who for a second looks like the boss but is really just a most obnoxious senior co-worker. The boyish, completely disarming reception of the assortment of verbal insults tells you right away that Belfort is going places. The real boss turns out to be a congenial mentor played by Matthew McConaughey, a sales zealot. This is a cameo performance that is certain to win an Oscar, if there were a category for cameo performances. But don't feel sorry for him, at least not until March 2, and ONLY in the unlikely event that he does not win this year's Best Actor (defeating, ironically, DiCaprio).
Moving briskly, the narrative continues to the first day after Belfort's rapid acquisition of a broker's license which turns out to be Black Monday. Darwin's theory has never been so convincingly and conclusively demonstrated when Belfort joins a Mickey Mouse brokerage firm and loses no time at all to turn disaster into opportunity, using his superb selling skills to earn lucrative income by peddling penny stock. To his co-workers, it is an eye-opening demonstration of the magic of how a telephone and a voice, when used expertly, becomes the ticket to riches unimaginable. Note that this is completely unethical loading trusting clients with garbage stocks. Note also, however, that this is absolutely legal. The illegal stuff comes later, his final undoing.
The three-hour roller coaster ride with Belfort from rags to riches and then downfall does not feel long, thanks to Martin Scorsese's jubilant energy from beginning to end, at times oozing, at other times bursting. Matching him scene by scene is DiCaprio's brilliant delivery. Due credit must also be given to a huge supporting cast, too many to be mentioned one-by-one, with the exception of Jonah Hill who has received an Oscar nomination playing Belfort's loyal sidekick. The other 3 nominations completing a total of 5 are Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Screenplay (adapted).