Note to Mr. Scorsese (not enough sex)

Rating: 1/10 (28 December 2013)

Dear Mr. Scorsese, I have seen every movie you have done, dating back to your Mean Streets and Who's That Knocking at My Door, and I am very sorry to say that The Wolf of Wall Street is your worst.
Unfortunately The Wolf is a bore for the following reasons:
1) You have made a movie that is a De Caprio vehicle, instead of Scorsese movie. (Unlike your other films).
2) You have put your focus on a story that is unfortunately not only not new, but in fact too familiar and been said before.
3) The length of the film for this particular topic is a problem.
4) The most interesting aspects of this film is showcasing of the excess and the sex. And I wish you didn't cut that out as much as the other mundane parts.
5) Why treat the audience as dummies. Why assume that we can't handle something as relatively routine as an IPO (and I am not in finance) and cut off De Caprio's explanation of such in his narration.
6) Why not show us what De Caprio's character actually did wrong.
7) I am not sure what it says about us that we prefer to watch movies about Italian gangsters vs Wall Street types.
8) This movie would have worked better as a 2-hour wild ride with more of the excesses showcased than a 3-hour vague promo for the main character.
9) I understand that while editing this film you tried to narrow it down to under 3 hours, but doing so, you have made compromises about what we consider Scorsese touch vs what you think the audience wants to see.
10) Maybe, this is a case where studio interference would have helped. Knowing full well that the movie was independently financed and hence granting the director a rare opportunity to release the version without a green light from the bosses.
11) Where is the Scorsese touch in this film? Where is the wow factor? Why would a director of your stellar reputation and vision release a film that doesn't project your signature touches.
12) I understand that for this film you have chosen not to showcase the camera. I get it, that the subject matter may not have required (for example) Robert Richardson's amazing lighting techniques, but by giving in to the script too much you have lost your DNA in this film.
13) We are used to watching Scorsese movies about degenerate characters, nothing new there, but you always mix that with awe-inspiring visual narrative. None of that exists in The Wolf.
14) Where is Ms. Schoonmaker's now iconic editing chops in this film? Why is it so mundane?
15) If you would have kept more of the sex, and lessens the movie by a full hour (at least 30 min), added your signature visual style and more of Ms. Schoonmaker's editing prowess you could have saved this film.
16) This movie comes across as your first film that was made purely with box office numbers in mind and that's beneath a director of your stature and frankly doesn't sync with your legendary reputation.
17) I prefer to watch movies at home, as I have a nice set up, but I only go to the theater and suffer through all the hassle and commercials for 2 directors, yours and Tarantino. I was sorry that I sat through this farce for 3 hours and I am a huge fan of your work.