Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street is one of those movies that reminds me why I love watching movies so much. From Leonardo DiCaprio’s tremendous acting to the engaging and contentious script and of course a slew of technical marvel conducted by directorial legend Martin Scorsese, this is one of the most technically proficient films I have seen in a while. Wolf of Wall Street distinguishes itself from other technically proficient films, however, in its controversial and topically conscious subject matter. Inspired by the life of wall street trader and ex-convict (for insider trading) Jordan Belfort, the film depicts the glamorous and callous life of an investment banker, drawing strong thematic parallels between life in finance and life in the mafia.
Scorsese establishes this parallel in part by returning to filmmaking techniques he used in his classic ‘90’s gangster film Goodfellas. Wolf makes use of long tracking shots following DiCaprio through his personal carnival of grandeur, reminiscent of iconic shots of Ray Liotta walking through a five star restaurant in Goodfellas as if he owns the place. DiCaprio’s portrayal of Bancroft also defies common conceptions of investment bankers—rather than a reserved math wizard making calculated decisions, he is a swaggering and impetuous party animal with drug habits that make Scarface look like a teetotaler. DiCaprio’s performance is crucial to Scorsese’s message. His acting style creates a new archetype for the investment banker in Hollywood, a character type informed by the reckless behavior of investment firm executives precipitating the housing bubble of 2009.
DiCaprio’s performance owes a lot to Terrance Winter’s beautifully written script, a cynical critique of the moral hazards intrinsic to a deregulated capitalist economy. Winter’s script focuses on the idea that wealth allows an individual to live above the law. Bancroft’s character engages in selfish reckless behavior that warrants arrest throughout the film. He evades legal repercussions several times due to his wealth and status. Even at the end of the film, when Bancroft finally receives jail time, he spends his days in a prison nicer than most 5 star hotels, and returns home to plenty of wealth a few years later. Bancroft’s personal story serves as a metaphor for the housing bubble. Investment firms intentionally supported the housing bubble knowing they would be bailed out by taxpayer money. The firms were such an integral part of the economy that we had no choice to bail them out. Similarly, Bancroft lives the rockstar lifestyle, indulging in wanton drug binges and avoiding legal persecution because he can easily post bail and leverage his status to evade arrest.
I expect Wolf of Wall Street to be a major contender for awards during the academy awards. The film is excellent on all fronts—grandiose set design, fast-paced and intense editing, a cynical and topical script, perhaps DiCaprio’s best acting performance yet, and all of these elements held together by Scorsese’s directorial signature to form a coherent jaded post-recession retrospective on the self destructive, over-indulgent lifestyle of the elite which precipitated economic calamity on the US.
