Sell me this pen!

Rating: 7/10 (27 December 2013)

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie
Written by Terence Winter and Jordan Belfort
"Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government."
This was the film I was waiting for all year. I was heartbroken when the film got delayed it's release from November to December. Luckily, it didn't hurt the film one bit. DiCaprio and Scorsese have done it again!
Martin Scorsese, what else do I have to say? I believe he is the only director that could keep me entertained for 3 long hours. Critics have been criticizing the length of this film but throughout, I was never lost, confused or looking at my watch. My eyes were constantly on the screen and it was typical Scorsese film-making. This could be Scorsese's most intense and funniest film to date. The actions of the characters would be viewed as disgusting, but Martin Scorsese frames this story of greed and corruption with a comedic lens that allows us to laugh at things we probably shouldn't find humorous. His work with the camera is fascinating as always. He is one of the few film-makers that teaches a new camera technique in every one of his film releases. The collaboration of Scorsese and Schoonmaker once again knocks the ball out of the park. It's the simple things that keep you at awe. The quick cuts once again do their magic and works well.
The cast did a superb job with this film. Everybody was on their game and not one performance faltered. Notable performances were given by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie. DiCaprio once again gives a stellar performance under Scorsese's direction. His performance reminded me of Ray Liotta from 'Goodfellas' but with more 'swagger.' His confidence and arrogance leap from scene to scene and you can't keep your eyes off of him. Jonah gave his best performance yet in my opinion. His accent was always spot on and never trailed off. He contributed so much to his character and improvised portions of his dialogue. Great effort! Margot Robbie is a blonde bombshell! She is so physically attracting, you want her to be seen in every scene. Her accent was partially over acted but it didn't hurt her performance or the story as a whole.
Martin Scorsese can be counted again and again to choose the right music soundtrack for his films. He is fearless. His efforts in this film reminded me of a 'Goodfellas' theme but with it's own voice added to it. The songs are so diverse yet they come together as a whole, perfect harmony. One of my favourite examples is how 'Mrs Robinson' was used. Such an intense scene with a great flowing song on top of it.
This film isn't for everybody. There are a lot of intense scenes but are all necessary in telling the truth of the story. if you are able to keep an open mind throughout, you will see the beauty that Scorsese brought on screen. If you're a fan of Goodfellas and Casino, you will absolutely love this movie. A definite must see for Scorsese/DiCaprio fans.