A Howling Success!

Rating: 9/10 (18 January 2014)

"The Wolf of Wall Street" may be one of the most refreshing films in years. Recently Hollywood has been shipping out many unoriginal films that do not have much flare or ambition to them and Comic book/super hero movies have been thrown at us that are entertaining but fall flat in creativity. However Martin Scorsese shows us in this film that films can still be captivating, engrossing and have very rich and clever dialogue that by the time you have left the cinema the motivational speeches of Jordan Belfort are imprinted in your mind.
To help bring the script to life we get an amazing performance from Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort who really delivers his lines with such enthusiasm that you believe every word of his speeches are the truth. DiCaprio really gives an Oscar worthy performance. The supporting cast also do a fantastic job.
The film follows Jordan Belfort who goes to Wall Street to be a stock broker and quench his thirst for money. He then starts his own firm and uses illegal methods to gain millions of dollars. He uses these millions to create his decadent and lavish lifestyle with havoc and laughter ensuing. However the same greed that made him rise to be a multi-millionaire will be his downfall.
As I said the film follows this pattern of Belforts rise and fall which is also the same in previous Scorsese films such as "Goodfellas". To anyone who has seen "Goodfellas" they may feel that the Wolf of Wall Street is the exact same movie and on paper and so you will probably be able to guess how the film ends before even stepping into the cinema. However do not go into this film expecting a plot twist halfway through or something that redefines the way films are made. The film should be loved for the the engrossing and hilarious journey through greed and corruption that it takes you on as it really is a thrill ride without any explosions or tense moments and it should be praised for managing such a feat! The equivalent of gun fights and car chases in an action movie are sheer dialogue and wit in this film.
Although I personally felt that the film may have been a bit too long, I felt that three hours is a bit too much for this movie to handle. We are shown two hours and thirty minutes of non stop outrageousness which at a point becomes a bit overwhelming and some scenes feel like they are just there to emphasise how insane these peoples life styles were and could easily be shortened down because you understand this message about two hours into the film. Despite this the film does save itself at the last thirty minutes.
Overall "The Wolf Of Wall Street" is Martin Scorseses greatest film in years with all round great performances. This film has been a seven year project and you can tell that a lot of time, dedication and effort has went into making this film as good as it possibly can be, it does stumble at parts but it truly is a howling success that makes you want to beat your chest while humming.