It's a con

Rating: 4/10 (3 March 2014)

Didn't live up to the hype. Yes, Leonardo DiCaprio puts in a great performance, and yes, we get transported into a zone of debauchery and obscenity which we would never have imagined could really exist. But for what purpose?
In some ways this is a non-story. Jordan Belfort cheats a lot of people, gets filthy rich, then gets caught. But he doesn't change ... at least he's not portrayed in the film as regretting any of his actions. My point is that the main character doesn't *develop*, so it's a non-story. Which I guess proves that the guy is a good salesman, considering how many copies of the non-story of his life that he's sold.
So although the movie works on the voyeuristic level, and to some extent the comedic level, it's fairly base entertainment. It's certainly not a movie which appeals to the mind or the heart. The one highlight is an incredible couple of scenes towards the end when Jordan and Donnie are off their faces: Jordan has to get to his car and drive it even though he can't walk, then he fights Donnie for the telephone.
I would have rated the film lower, but for the good work of DiCaprio, the inclusion of Margot Robbie, and her good work also.