I was having a conversation with my friend as we were driving to see this film. We were discussing directors who, when involved in a project, you know immediately the movie they are directing is going to be something more than just another movie. There are great directors who make phenomenal films and then there are the select few that make a film that is truly an experience; they make something more than just a great movie. It will be something that will be talked about long after the credits roll. I’m sure I’m missing some but in our conversation we came up with two, Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese. In the case of The Wolf of Wall Street, Scorsese again delivers what I believe to be yet another masterpiece that will stand the test of time for many decades to come. This is, without a doubt, my favorite film of 2013.
Scorsese has an eye for film like no other and, in his daring nature, creates some of the most memorable films in the history of cinema. When he is gone, that will be a sad day indeed. In fact, my favorite film of all time is The Departed, a beautiful example of a remake done right and in fact exceeds the original, in my opinion of course.
In 2002 Martin Scorsese chose Leonardo DiCaprio as his lead in the epic Gangs of New York. This film would spawn a friendship and partnership that has now spanned over 5 films including The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and now The Wolf of Wall Street. In each film DiCaprio tops his previous role and with his newest, Wolf, he has turned in the performance of his career. This will be his Oscar winning role, it has to be, and he is just too brilliant in this to not pull out a win. Unfortunately, other than his role as Jordan Belfort, I think this film will miss out on the Best Picture nomination as well as Best Director for one reason, nudity. The Academy isn’t exactly known for being the most liberal group of old farts and they refuse to expand their horizons. Someone needs to tell these morons that it’s 2013, things are changing and they need to keep up with the times. Nudity isn’t the most accepted thing in the Academy and this movie spews the nudity all over the screen. If I had to describe this film in three words they would be language, drugs, and nudity.
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) once was a young and ambitious man who wanted to make money for his new wife and to live well. What started as an innocent endeavor to make it rich on Wall Street turned into a deadly cycle of drugs, sex, corruption, and lies that accumulated into a very real consequence that in his drugged out state of mind, he never thought would happen. He thought he was untouchable and yes, money does buy a lot, but it does not protect you forever. With his superlative sense of self along with Donnie (Jonah Hill) the enabler of all enablers, he pushes the both of them into a dark world of deterioration that has no way of ending happily. This is a roller coaster that has a violent end and it’s approaching quickly. The most amazing aspect to it all is that at least to some extent, it really happened. Watch this knowing that it occurred and prepare to be amazed in every way.
The editing is loose but very structured in the direction it intends on going. It has a game plan to get from A to B but the in between is a mess of hilarity and obscenity after obscenity that doesn’t appear to have an ending in sight. But of course, under the master’s guidance, it not only finds its finish line, it does it in true Scorsese style that pushes every bit of the envelope to its maximum potential. This is the best film of the year and needs to be seen to be believed, and even then, you might not believe it.
This is unquestionably the craziest, most over the top film of this year and it doesn’t relent the entire three hour run time. From beginning to end it is drug use, HEAVY drug use, an overabundance of sex, nudity and language that comes through in true Scorsese fashion. But despite all of its crudeness, this is one amazing, beautifully directed epic. This is not for the easily offended – I have said this before about other films but I have never meant it more than I do right now – this is barely acceptable for adults, Ha! Ha! Ha! It is very clear almost immediately why the film’s initial rating was an NC-17 and I’m still not sure how this R rated version even got by with an R rating at all. Where is that line exactly between R rated and NC-17 because in the case of The Wolf of Wall Street, that line is blurred beyond recognition. But man do I love this movie!
Rated R For: sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence
Run Time: 180 minutes
After Credits Scene: None
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie, Jon Bernthal, Rob Reiner
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Out of 5 Nerdskulls
Story: 5/ Acting: 5/ Directing: 5/ Visuals: 5
OVERALL: 5 Nerdskulls
