Welcome to the Jungle

Rating: 7/10 (31 January 2014)

Very rarely does a film weave in AND out of Best Picture of *insert year* territory, but Wolf of Wall Street manages just that.
Accomplishing exactly what No Country For Old Men did years ago, this film was the greatest work of cinema in the calendar year----until the final act. That cursed final act that ultimately prevented this from becoming the Wall Street version of Goodfellas and Scorsese's best movie since The Departed.
The first two acts was a man's man's man's man's film. It was ballsy, it was gutsy, it was directly in your face, out of control, and so full of testosterone you become unsure if you can handle it all. It threw you right into the world of Wall Street where there were no signs of softness and Martin Scorsese directs this with a certain rampant speed and attitude that made it all the grittier and edgier. The language, sex, immorality, and take-no-prisoners approach to life within the broker industry was in full display and even though it got jarring, it was still breathtakingly entertaining to watch. The script held nothing back, and neither did the editing, directing, and especially the acting.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of the best performances of his career, and gives it an energy and furor that would make 90s Jim Carrey impressed. He threw everything he had in this role, as it required a stamina that very few actors can successfully manage. Even Daniel-Day Lewis couldn't provide a taste of the mayhem that DiCaprio provided. The rest of the cast excluding Jonah Hill (Who really, really bogged the movie down a bit) were also superb, especially Matthew McConaughey in a role that was far too short.
The soundtrack was blazing and skipping around like an indecisive teenager using an IPod shuffle, the amount of detail was staggering, and there wasn't a single dull moment. Although our lead character was a terrible human being, you couldn't help but be mesmerized and slightly jealous at all his success, while also be enthralled at the cutthroat business he was engaged in.
And then came the final act.
This movie already had a heavy Goodfellas vibe from the getgo, bringing with it a predictable aura that brought the movie twisting towards a downward spiral that never recovered. If the first half felt like an adrenaline shot to the chest, then the latter half felt like a full bottle of sleeping bills taken simultaneously. With the shift in tone and pace, all the setbacks from earlier were suddenly being put out in full display. The editing suddenly looked weaker, the script suddenly lost focus, and the movie got repetitive, really fast. There was a great sequence of physical comedy from DiCaprio that forgave all the issues temporarily, but it was immediately followed by multiple failed chances to finish the movie in a strong note.
Easily 35-40 minutes could have been cut, limiting the movie's predictable final act. But before you know it you are watching the slow descent into despair that muddles heavily after the animated testosterone-laden personality of the first half. Scorsese should know better, instead of coming off like a gambler who doesn't know when to quit while he is ahead and ending the evening dead even. Wolf of Wall Street is wildly entertaining, but being half a spectacular movie shouldn't earn you Best Picture, no matter how good the opening half is.
But Best Actor however..is definitely, definitely here.