You wanna know what money sounds like?

Rating: 9/10 (10 February 2014)

"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." Henry Hill's famous line echoes through Jordan Belfort's "I always wanted to be rich." The Wolf of Wall Street is Martin Scorsese's fifth collaboration with a never-better Leonardo DiCaprio and although it doesn't quite match the energy of Goodfellas, it is Scorsese's most accomplished film since.
Unlike Scorsese's previous works, it's the dialogue that is the core to this feature. Not only does The Wolf of Wall Street feature 569 uses of the f-word - breaking a new record in cinema history - "You wanna know what money sounds like?" But it's lines like this that grab the audience's attention and set the tone for the film.
The attention to detail, along with a soundtrack that ranges from Foo Fighters to Simon & Garfunkel, is nothing short of pure genius. Throughout the film you'll notice deliberate continuity errors as well as carefully selected lens changes that reinforce each characters drug fuelled mental state. The fast paced editing, whip pans, crash zooms and freeze frames also contribute to the madness that unfolds on screen which makes The Wolf of Wall Street an epitome of pure cinema.
The entire Quaaludes scene is utterly jaw-dropping yet hilarious thanks to DiCaprio's superb improvisational skills. Not only is this the stand out scene of the entire film but one of the most shocking too. It's no wonder the MPAA had a heart attack over the explicit content on show but despite what they may have said, The Wolf of Wall Street certainly doesn't promote such a crazed lifestyle.
As expected, Leonardo DiCaprio excels as Jordan Belfort. The enthusiasm he brings to the role, in particular, shines through his character's motivational speeches that are as slick as Belfort's black hair and sharp suits. His performance is so convincing you will have to fight the urge to jump out of your seat to start cheering to his every command. This is undoubtedly the performance of his career and it will be truly shameful if he doesn't get to walk away with his long overdue Oscar this year.
Prepare to bow down to the aptly named "Duchess" Margot Robbie who is the films breakout star. Not only is she a beauty that provides the humour and honesty but she also becomes the films emotional conscience. Jonah Hill plays Belfort's pastel wearing sidekick Donnie Azoff who, as always, gets some of the biggest and broadest laughs. Matthew McConaughey comes and goes, but his presence is strong until the very end all thanks to his memorable dinner scene with DiCaprio.
It may be a touch too long, but each scene as entertaining as the next. An unbelievably funny, bold and outrageous epic marking Scorsese's most controversial film to date. Expect to be beating your chest for days afterwards.