Lifestyles of the rich and repugnant

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 2014)

A beast of a movie, The Wolf of Wall Street, is a monstrous three hour Martin Scorsese creation that is absolutely enthralling and mesmerizing.
Jordan Belfort is the repugnant stock broker who 'steals from the rich and gives to himself'. An ostentatious super-rich man dripping in excess, achieved through deceit and fraud, and we follow along on his rise and inevitable fall.
The whole movie is garish, every single wonderful second and screams of Scorsese style and thoroughly entertaining. It is not for everyone and certainly not the faint of heart given the prevalence of nudity, sex and drugs (oh, the drugs!). It is loud, bold, and just shy of ludicrous but equally hilarious, anchored by the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort and Jonah Hill, Belfort's right hand man Donnie Azoff.
It is nominated for five Academy Awards, a sizable number worthy of pride for all those involved. Though, if it doesn't win for at least one of the categories in which the picture is nominated, given the sheer undertaking of the film, then the whole award show is a sham because it deserves some recognition.
I want to explain why, I want to reference scenes to prove my point, I really do, but if I did I would be spoiling the experience. So just watch it and see.
I will say this for Scorsese films - I find I love them the first time around because of the ride but then that second time I am thoroughly demystified and less charmed.
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