An obscene, excessive and over-indulgent romp

Rating: 8/10 (10 January 2014)

If you've seen one Martin Scorsese film, you've seen them all. Perhaps this statement only when applied to Scorsese can be construed as a compliment. "The Wolf of Wall Street" is quintessential Scorsese, overflowing with greed, ambition and excesses.
The heart and soul of the film is Leonardo DiCaprio, adeptly playing the protagonist Jordan Belfort to whom ambition is the air he breathes, no excess excessive enough and playing the game alone is reward enough - at any cost. And at what cost! The film portrays the struggle of a single man to preserve everything he identifies himself with, even when faced by the inevitability of succumbing to the game. The film ends with a hint of poignancy, as if to suggest that the life ordinary is almost not worth it, and to trudge alongside people who "don't get it" is punishment enough.
The performance of DiCaprio perhaps can entice the elusive recognition from the Academy Awards, as meaningless as they are, this time around. For it is truly a career-defining performance and he shines bright in a film that's all about his character. Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey deserve a special mention too for their supporting roles, and the film is an obscene, excessive and over-indulgent romp. Just what we've come to expect from a Scorsese film. 8/10