Martin Scorsese’s intensely hyped film The Wolf of Wall Street follows New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he navigates the hectic yet apparently glamorous world of Wall Street. Starting out as an innocent twenty-two-year-old working as a penny stockbroker, Belfort’s immense talent allowed him to quickly work his way up to founding and leading his own brokerage firm. Extreme wealth earned early in life rarely ends well in film, as one well knows, and it is not long before the FBI begins investigating Belfort due to his corrupt dealings. Full of confidence and drunk off of a never-ending diet of money, sex, and drugs, however, Belfort believes himself to be invincible, and it will take a lot to bring him down.
As expected, The Wolf of Wall Street earned nominations in both the Best Picture and Directing categories, making it a strong frontrunner for the ultimate prize. The two main actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, were also nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, respectively. I believe DiCaprio to have a good chance at finally snagging a much-deserved Oscar this year, yet I am torn as to what I would like to see occur. Although I would love for this highly talented and under recognized actor to finally win an award that has unfortunately eluded him over his illustrious career, and was shocked to see the apparent ease with which this man in his forties portrayed one of twenty-two onwards, I do sincerely believe that Matthew McConaughey presented the year’s best performance in Dallas Buyers Club. This statement surprises none more than myself; however, I respect both actors and their performances and would be content with either outcome. The film has also received an Adapted Screenplay nomination, and I believe that the sharp and witty script definitely deserves recognition in this category.
The Wolf of Wall Street aims to depict a series of events not as they occurred, but as they were experienced and remembered by an individual obsessed with sex, drugs, and money. It therefore presents a wild ride of non-stop debauchery, profanity, and excess, and is, it must be admitted, a hell of a fun time. Director Scorsese is a master of detail, and every aspect of the movie, from the dizzying filming style and pounding musical choices to the hectic pacing and exaggerated storyline, works together to reflect the point of view of an individual on a permanent high. A grandly scaled film in all regards, The Wolf of Wall Street is a wild ride that will certainly receive some recognition on Awards Night, although perhaps not the big win that all desire.
