DiCaprio and Scorsese are the Wolves of Hollywood.

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2014)

There's a certain magic that director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio bring to the table when they are penned together for a film. The raw acting ability of DiCaprio could make even the dullest character seem interesting, and Martin Scorsese's directing style could make any script pure entertainment. In The Wolf of Wall Street, these two men are the showstoppers of arguably the best movie of 2013.
The movie centers around the true story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who's rise to power and wealth through securities fraud and money laundering led to his arrest in the late 1990's. It's a fantastically compelling story, and thanks to the mastermind that is Martin Scorsese, this story that most likely shouldn't be viewed as entertainment for its criminal roots, is made an absolute blast to watch. The 3 hour run time of the film at first seems like a heavy burden for this movie to carry, but the time is spent perfectly on delivering every detail possible. Nearly half of the film is spent providing background story of Belfort's life, and in the end, the extra character and story development give this movie a deep and very real plot that clings to you. The themes that are delivered in this movie are powerful to say the least, making you think about everything you thought you knew about crime and corruption on Wall Street. As a true story, this film grabs your attention and never lets go, seizing any idea you thought you had about crime stories and vamping them up to new heights.
Any movie with massive amounts of sex, profanity and drug use are bound to be criticized, and with the plot showing the glorification of crime, The Wolf of Wall Street is the front runner for criticism. However, with every outrageously adult scene comes an abundance of entertainment and laughter. Belfort and company perform countless explicit acts, and director Martin Scorsese is able to take these acts and turn them into hilarious moments fueled by the ridiculous amount of drug consumption, profanity and sexual content in the film. The bottom line is that this movie is wildly fun to watch, with a high entertainment level intact the entire time.
In my personal opinion, and in the minds of many more, Leonardo DiCaprio is the best actor in the world who has not won an Oscar. All I can say, is that if The Wolf of Wall Street doesn't earn him that award, I'm not sure what else can. There are endless amounts of words I could use to describe DiCaprio's performance. Captivating, exquisite, phenomenal, enthralling, etc, etc. DiCaprio shows his sheer ability to take any one character and create one who is developed beyond belief, with the ability to make you feel any emotions he displays, no matter what they may be. DiCaprio's character, Jordan Belfort, is a highly uncontrollable drug and sex addict whose lust for money and power often drives him over the edge of reality. We've seen DiCaprio portray some crazy and unique characters, but none like this. This already sterling actor goes to a new level to find his character, and the result is the best performance of his career. DiCaprio's acting ignites the movie, and it spreads throughout the film like wildfire. It's addicting to watch his talents unfold on screen, there's nothing DiCaprio can't do. Bar none the best performance by a male in a lead role this year, possibly of the last few.
I have to also give approval to other cast members such as Jonah Hill (Donnie Azoff), Margot Robbie (Naomi Lapaglia), and Matthew McConaughey (Mark Hanna). These actors all helped fill out the supporting characters to a tee and gave the cast depth which in turn gave the film true depth.
It goes without saying that Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese know how to create movie magic. The Departed, Shutter Island, and The Aviator, to name a few, are wonderful films done between these two. But The Wolf of Wall Street is a whole new beast. The story was captivating, the screenplay seemed to have been made from gold, the themes portrayed by the film are powerful and controversial and it shines bright. With Leonardo DiCaprio's sensational performance as the icing on the cake, The Wolf of Wall Street rightfully places itself as the front runner for my best movie of 2013.
10/10