The Wolf of Wall Street

"My name is Jordan Belfort. The year I turned 26, I made $49 million, which really pissed me off because it was three shy of a million a week." As far as opening lines go, you’re not likely to come across a better one in 2014 – it grabs your attention, raises a chuckle and makes for an economic introduction to the film’s insatiable protagonist. It also functions as a forewarning that we’re in for three hours of wild excess and moral decadence beautifully orchestrated by Martin Scorsese. When taken on those terms, The Wolf of Wall Street truly is a fascinating beast.

When we first meet Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), he is a wide-eyed wannabe yuppie eager to get rich the quick way via the wonders of stock brokerage. All it takes is one meal with a Wall Street hot shot for Jordan to realise the prospects this new world offers – “The name of the game: move the money from your client’s pocket into your pocket” crows Matthew McConaughey’s smarmy Mark Hanna, before adding that the secret to doing this job is hookers and cocaine. And just like that, Belfort’s fate is sealed.

What follows is a movie chronicling one man’s meteoric rise to power, as we witness Jordan go into business, build an empire of ruthless stockbrokers, manipulate the finance market to his every need and blow the money on a lifestyle almost too depraved to describe. Not even 30 minutes into the film, we’re already treated to office orgies, chimps on skates, midget throwing contests, breast implant auctions, naked marching bands and a relentless consumption of class A drugs, all of which were allegedly common occurrences at Belfort’s brokerage house, Stratton Oakmont.

Herein lays the biggest issue with TWOWS. For a film about stock brokers getting rich off the losses of their unsuspecting clients, no light is shed on the misery of the latter and far too much time is instead dedicated to the pleasure-seeking lifestyles of the former. By all means, viewers shouldn’t be lectured to and not every movie needs to come bow-wrapped in a moral, but considering we’re still dealing with the impact that the 2008 financial crisis has had on the global economy, a little more discretion on Scorsese’s behalf wouldn’t have been out of place.

Not that the director lets his characters completely off the hook, mind. If there’s one thing TWOWS does very well is reveal how an overabundance of riches and power will bring out the worst in us. Predictably, Jordan’s combined addiction to sex and drugs takes a gradual turn for the ugly, and while his colleagues come from humble origins, the moment the dosh comes piling in their laps (sometimes literally), they turn into insufferable fraudsters with giant egos. An early scene sees an office worker allowing her hair to be shaved in public and agreeing to undergo plastic surgery – all for a few thousand cash. The look on her face as her locks are clumsily removed is one of regret and humiliation barely concealed by weak laughter. It’s a quietly powerful moment in an otherwise OTT scene.

Yet despite the subtext about corruption, there’s no getting away from the fact that TWOWS is the funniest film Marty’s ever made (not to mention his raunchiest – he’s definitely never dedicated so much attention to pubic landscaping). Freeze frames and slow-motion are employed to brilliant comedic effect, while some characters reveal a Scrubsian inner monologue that adds hilarity to scenes already funny in their own right. As for the star of the show, Leonardo DiCaprio is something of a revelation. For someone who excels in dramatic roles and often comes across as a bit of a bore in the media, it’s a joy to see him this unhinged. His chemistry with regular funnyman Jonah Hill is evident, their banter rapidfire and instantly quotable (“I will NOT die sober!”), while the scene in which Jordan tries to drive his sports car under the effect of Qualuudes will have you in stitches. Who’d have thought Jack Dawson would turn out to be such a talented physical comedian?

Finally, the overlong running time does occasionally stretch patience and you’ll probably feel guilty for enjoying these characters’ company so much, but don’t let that get in the way of a damn good movie. Three hours of sex, laughs and hardcore drugs all wrapped up in a thick wad of cash, delivered by one of Hollywood’s most esteemed directors. How’s that for a recommendation?

4/5