Another Scorsese future classic

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2014)

Ugh. Never have I seen a film with so many reprehensible people. They steal your money, laugh in your face, waste it on pointless extravagances and tasteless parties... all without a hint of remorse. Especially Jordan, as depicted by DiCaprio. He's the head of this office full of crooks, who blast you with jargon on the phones on which stocks to invest in, before taking a huge slice of your cash. He is also a drug addict, a philanderer, a raging egotist, and no regard for anything apart from making more $. He makes Gordan Gekko look like Mother Theresa, and aside from playing a mass murdering chicken molester, it's impossible to imagine DiCaprio ever playing someone more hateful.
So, considering one of my main problems is with films that have nobody to root for, why did I find The Wolf Of Wall Street absolutely brilliant, and one of the best films I've seen of late? For one thing, It's hilarious. The comedy here is blacker than the strongest coffee... just how I like it. Also, there are so many great lines you could fill a book of quotes. Expect this movie to be paraphrased from in the future as much as Casablanca, Dirty Harry, etc. are. There are a surplus of superb performances too, from Leo's repellent slimeball to his wife (materialistic Margot Robbie) and Joanna Lumley in a small role as a plummy Englishwoman. Biggest SHOCK has to go to Jonah Hill, who usually has the same effect on me as Kryptonite on Superman. He's the second in command of these sleazebags-in-suits, and for a change his arrogance and stupidity are perfect for the part. Well done, Jonah. I knew you could do it.
Anyone casually looking at The Wolf Of Wall Street without thinking might assume it condones all the immorality and depravity which goes on almost till the end. Nothing could be further from the truth. These nasty pieces of work may get their kicks from shagging each others brains out, doing lines of coke as if they were sherbet dips and buying all their luxuries that they barely use for obscene amounts of money... but are they ACTUALLY happy? There's no love here... only lust. No friendship... only dependence. Nothing wrong with aiming towards the better things in life, as long as you don't do it to excess, discarding all ethics along the way.
I used to think that becoming rich was worth almost any price. After seeing the horrible jerks present here, and what they do to become so wealthy, well let's just say my mind has been well and truly changed. 8/10