A young, ambitious stockbroker uses unorthodox methods to rise in the world of high finance.
Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street is an unflinching portrait of the life and times of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker whose tumultuous journey of unbridled hedonism and financial fraud is captured with an arresting vigor. Powered by a magnetic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio and an audacious direction by Scorsese, the movie is a captivating exploration of human desire, ambition, and corruption.
The film’s success, to a large extent, can be credited to its potent screenplay, adapted from Belfort’s own memoir by Terence Winter. The narrative is a relentless blitz of wild parties, extravagant wealth, and outrageous behavior, providing an unapologetic peek into the unchecked debauchery of Wall Street in the late 20th century. It maneuvers through the ups and downs of Belfort’s life, effectively highlighting the consequences of his unchecked greed.
At the heart of The Wolf of Wall Street is a tour-de-force performance by Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio completely immerses himself in the role of Belfort, bringing to life the character’s charm, energy, and narcissism. From his motivational speeches and drug-induced antics to his passionate defense of greed, DiCaprio’s portrayal is nothing short of mesmerizing.
The rest of the cast, including Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Kyle Chandler, deliver excellent performances. Hill, as Belfort’s right-hand man Donnie Azoff, is a standout with his comedic timing and compelling portrayal of excess. Robbie as Naomi, Belfort’s second wife, delivers a strong performance, effectively balancing her character’s glamour and vulnerability. Chandler, as FBI Agent Patrick Denham, provides a worthy adversary to Belfort, embodying the relentless pursuit of justice.
The film’s technical prowess is equally impressive. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto paints a vivid picture of Belfort’s world with a dizzying array of camera movements and a glossy color palette that underscores the opulence on display. Thelma Schoonmaker’s sharp editing keeps the narrative engaging, maintaining a breakneck pace that mirrors the protagonist’s high-energy lifestyle.
The Wolf of Wall Street remains a remarkable piece of filmmaking. It’s a wild, audacious, and sometimes uncomfortable ride through a world of outrageous excess and moral bankruptcy. At its core, the film is a critique of the culture of greed that can pervade high finance, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition. With its powerhouse performances, deft direction, and sharp screenplay, The Wolf of Wall Street is a testament to Scorsese’s enduring talent and a worthy addition to his impressive filmography.
The most prominent theme, perhaps, is the insatiable greed that consumes Belfort and his colleagues. Their relentless pursuit of wealth illustrates the darker side of capitalism, revealing a cutthroat world where ethics and morals are cast aside for the sake of profit. Belfort’s mantra, “greed is good,” encapsulates the ruthlessness of this dog-eat-dog environment. However, the film doesn’t merely condemn this unyielding greed; it seeks to analyze its roots and impacts, demonstrating how it can skew personal values, damage relationships, and ultimately lead to self-destruction.
Closely linked to greed is the theme of hedonism. Belfort’s life is portrayed as a non-stop party filled with drugs, sex, and reckless behavior. The director uses these scenes of excessive indulgence to depict a morally bankrupt culture where immediate gratification trumps all else. The film offers a critique of this hedonistic lifestyle, depicting the physical and emotional toll it takes on Belfort and those around him. Scorsese doesn’t shy away from showing the uglier aspects of this relentless pursuit of pleasure, using it to further emphasize the corrosive effects of unchecked greed.
Additionally, the film delves into the concept of the American Dream, presenting a distorted version of this widely cherished ideal. Belfort is initially portrayed as a classic rags-to-riches success story, a self-made man who achieves enormous wealth through hard work and determination. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that his version of the American Dream is deeply flawed, built on illegal activities and moral compromises. This representation poses a powerful question about the lengths individuals are willing to go to achieve success and the price they are prepared to pay for it.
The Wolf of Wall Street also explores the theme of manipulation, both at an individual and a systemic level. Belfort is a master manipulator, able to convince others to buy worthless stocks and follow him into illegal activities. This manipulation is also evident in how the financial system operates, as depicted in the film, with powerful players exploiting loopholes and bending the rules to their advantage. This theme further reinforces the film’s critique of unchecked capitalism.
Lastly, the film underscores the theme of consequence and retribution. Belfort’s downfall serves as a stark reminder that actions have consequences. His ultimate punishment, although relatively mild considering his transgressions, is a potent symbol of retribution. However, the film also subtly questions whether the punishment meted out is sufficient, leaving viewers to contemplate the fairness of the system.
The cinematography of The Wolf of Wall Street, as headed by Rodrigo Prieto, is an integral part of the storytelling. It is characterized by its vibrant and dynamic style, designed to reflect the energetic and excessive lifestyle of its protagonist, Jordan Belfort. A range of camera movements is utilized to mimic the chaotic pace of Belfort’s life. From steady tracking shots and rapid pans to swirling movements, these techniques capture the hectic environment of Stratton Oakmont and the debauchery of Belfort’s parties, thus immersing the audience in the frenzied world of Wall Street.
Prieto employs a warm, rich color palette that mirrors the opulence of Belfort’s world. The colors are bright, glossy, and almost flamboyant, depicting the superficial glamour and the ostentatious wealth at the core of Belfort’s existence. The cinematography is further enhanced by the clever use of point-of-view shots. This subjective camera technique offers the audience a chance to view the world through Belfort’s perspective, particularly during scenes demonstrating his intense drug experiences.
Lighting plays a significant role in setting the tone of the film. The high-contrast lighting creates an atmosphere that ranges from the bright, almost overexposed daylight scenes of the office and parties to the moody and darker hues employed for more intimate or intense scenes. Scorsese and Prieto use long, unbroken takes, also known as ‘oner,’ in several crucial scenes, such as the infamous ‘lemmon’ quaaludes scene, to create comedic or dramatic tension.
Extreme close-ups are strategically used to spotlight the emotional state of characters. Notably, the close-ups on Belfort during his motivational speeches capture his charisma and power, adding a layer of depth to the character’s portrayal. To conclude, the cinematography of The Wolf of Wall Street complements the narrative’s themes of hedonism and excess with its energetic, flamboyant, and expressive visual storytelling.
The soundtrack of The Wolf of Wall Street doesn’t feature a traditional film score but rather a compilation of music from different periods, selected to reflect the movie’s various moods and scenes. This eclectic mix of music was chosen by longtime Martin Scorsese collaborator Robbie Robertson, who served as the film’s music supervisor.
The film’s soundtrack incorporates a broad range of music styles, including jazz, blues, rock, pop, and even a bit of classical music. This diversity of genres aids in characterizing the film’s chaotic, frenzied ambiance and the unchecked hedonism of its characters.
Notable songs include:
The soundtrack of The Wolf of Wall Street is a character itself. It helps depict the characters’ high-energy lifestyle and reflects the excess, opulence, and chaos of Belfort’s world. You can listen to the original motion picture soundtrack below.
“Smoke crack with me, bro.” – Donnie Azoff
The Wolf of Wall Street was filmed in various locations across New York and New Jersey, United States. Although the story is set in different parts of the world, including Switzerland and the Mediterranean, most of these scenes were filmed in the United States.
Here are some specific filming locations:
The yacht scene in The Wolf of Wall Street, in which Jordan Belfort’s yacht sinks in a storm, is based on real events. The real Belfort did indeed own a luxury yacht named “Naomi,” which was previously owned by Coco Chanel.
In the late 1990s, Belfort, his wife, and their companions were on a trip to Italy when they hit a rough patch of weather and decided to continue on instead of waiting for the storm to pass. The yacht ultimately sank off the coast of Sardinia, and Belfort and his guests had to be rescued by the Italian Navy.
However, like many aspects of the film, the yacht scene is a dramatized version of real-life events. While the yacht did sink, the circumstances and details of the rescue may have been enhanced for cinematic effect in the movie.
