old hat is only scratching the surface

Rating: 2/10 (2 April 2014)

How many times can Martin Scorcese cast Leo and try to remake Goodfellas? This movie makes The Departed almost capture that past glory of yore. We get it: Greed is bad. But this film doesn't only borrow from Scorcese's past movies, but copies from others. A stock broker (the lowest rung on Wall Street) tries to get rich but when he can't do it legit, he cheats. Sound familiar??
This film is a sad attempt to play on the envy of people as well as the media's unflattering and grossly inaccurate portrayal of finance. Most people who wanna be in finance don't wanna be brokers, and most who are actual players are NOT brokers. Martin also calls McConaughey's character a "trader??" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? He was also a SALESMAN. Salesman=/=trader, just like paralegal=/=lawyer or nurse assistant=/=doctor. My other big problem is that when considering that this is a "cautionary tale" based off "truth," the use of artistic liberty, like midget tosses, goes a lil too far. The acting at best is mediocre. Leo was great in Titanic and Shutter Island, but this (and Departed too) really is just the showcase of the fact he cannot be a believable bad guy.
If you want a good Wall Street movie, see Wall Street. Or Margin Call. If you want a good Scorcese flick, see Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, or Raging Bull. Steer clear of this film tho. Unless you like spending money more wastefully than "The Wolf" himself.