Very Mixed Feelings about this film

Rating: 6/10 (4 February 2014)

I believe the intention was to show that the real life character had learned from his over the top past and was now doing the right thing but from what I've seen of Jordan Belfort that is yet another con.
Having said that the sheer scale of the excess is funny enough to sweep most viewers along in its wake. Who actually gets to trash a helicopter, yacht and a super luxury car in one film?
So I have very mixed feelings about this. Yes there were lots of funny scenes but the denouement is very unsatisfactory. The "wolf" gets a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket and promises to pay $110m to his victims.
He also gets a promo for his real life business at the end of the film. It very much looks like he is selling the same questionable sales techniques to a new generation - many of whom will use those skills for harm rather than good.
A telling moment in the film is when Fortune magazine writes an article about the Stratton Oakmont firm and says they are shysters. The Wolf thinks this bad review will sink the firm but instead he is swamped by dozens of young staff who all want to work there.
That moment - unfortunately seems to be what the film is about really. The firm are crooks but enough people are prepared to look the other way to continue the charade. Like the audiences for this film - we come with high expectations - this is Martin Scorsese but instead we get an actor driven film where Di Caprio wallows in the excess for laughs.
Granted he is a fine actor but at least I didn't pay to see this one. I had been given a free pass.
I see in real life that Jordan hasn't been paying off his $110m and until he does better on that front I think he is just another con artist. Now though he has added all of those who watch the film to his tally of victims.
Note: I have watched the real life Jordan on video and there is a striking resemblance to Bobby Cannavale. I wonder if having someone other than Di Caprio in the title role would have been less distracting.