A capitalist orgy played on a grand scale.

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2014)

What happens when Goodfellas meet American Pie? You get The Wolf of the Wall Street. Really? American Pie? Ummm...yes. Sort of. You take the raunchy and the obscene from American Pie and bit of their juvenility and mix in with the Goodfellas, you will get an idea of what the latest Martin Scorsese's movie is about, just an idea. Because The Wolf Of Wall Street is much more than that.
I am not a fan of American Pie. The most I got out of it was being mildly entertained. So if you hear me raving about The Wolf of Wall Street, you can discount that adolescence pleasure in sexual innuendoes and vulgarity. And that is not to say that I didn't enjoy The wolf of the Wall Street's raunchiness, obscenity and vulgarity. I was thoroughly entertained. It was not just a passing sexual fantasy, a superficial make over. It was a powerful imagery that was associated with every bit of it obscenity-the metaphor for the corrupting influence of excess of money, the moral hollowness that it often accompanies and the emptiness that its grandeur brings. But then why the pleasure? Why the fun when all they are doing is justifying looting to carry out their drug and sex rampage? I should have been repulsed. But I didn't. Partly because it was that adolescence pleasure. But mostly because the movie weaved a world that engulfed me from the start and made me a comrade in the devilry of the stockbrokers of Wall Street. Just like Goodfellas did with its gangster story. I became a part of their world. I was justifying their acts. I even got angry at an honest FBI agent for doing his work. Such is the irresistible charm of money! And then it suddenly removes the rug from under my feet and I see all the hollowness lurking beneath all the materialism.
The movie is three hours long. And it never seems like it. And that is enough praise in itself. The wonderful cast led by Leonardo diCaprio and Jonah hill infuses the movie with their energy and thespian abilities. And Martin Scorsese shines as usual with his directorial mastery in keeping total control over the film and it is his prowess that dilutes the technical jargon of wall street to make the lingo comprehensible to all without sacrificing any of its narrative fluidity. There is also less of a divide between the audience and the actors as diCaprio keep talking to the audience. It is an interesting, engaging add on, and it also emphasises the key point of the story-Jordan Belfort's selling prowess.
The Wolf of Wall Street is a parable on how addictive money making can be at the cost of conscience and love. Even love and loyalty that exists is all thanks to money. And once you threaten that, all hell breaks loose. It is fast paced, it is lunatic and it is one hell of an obscene fun-a capitalist orgy played on a grand scale.