The Wolf of Wall Street

To be honest, I was somehow speechless after I saw this movie. This film is a proper Scorsese, but on the other hand, it’s not something that I would be happy to remember. You see, the movie is a cruel reflection of the kind of society created by capitalism. That is of the kind of world we live in. And believe me, it’s not a pleasant sight. And that’s despite the fact that there’s plenty of fun and the acting performances are flawless. Having said that, I never want to see The Wolf of Wall Street again. Seeing naked reality is sometimes painful and I’m not able to accept such reality again. And the worst part is that it’s all based on real events. Nevertheless, there is one thing I have to admit. The guy the story was based on was a hell of a businessman. But that was probably the only thing he had going for him. (2014-01-24)

What surprised me, and not in a very good way, is that Scorece’s position towards the protagonist is neutral, as if he was saying that ripping people off, doing drugs and shagging whores is kind of fine. That's a pretty big problem for me, as a die-hard idealist. So far, none of Scorsese's films have lacked some kind of catharsis at the end, unfortunately I didn't get it here. I acknowledge the fantastic filmmaking, which on more than one occasion managed to elicit a relieved laugh from me, but otherwise I'd always prefer the stupid postmen who can only afford penny stocks over cunts like Jordan Belfort and his wolf pack. This farce is actually very far from a complex fresco telling something about something. (2014-01-16)

I have a terrible urge to use profanity whenever I think of The Wolf of Wall Street. So for once, excuse me if I say Leonardo is a great fu*king actor, unrivaled in America after that performance. I may not be a fan of drug movies, but they just made something more out of it here. I'm just sorry that Matthew McConaughey didn't stick around a little longer, because his goofiness is really perfect. This movie is an addiction! 5 stars. (2014-02-06)

A three-hour long joyride full of sex and cocaine, cool and base at the same time, trying to hide behind the proverb “sow the wind, reap the whirlwind”. I enjoyed myself immensely and I’ll definitely watch this again, but I don’t consider one dramatic scene (with the daughter in the car) to be enough for a three-hour film. The Wolf of Wall Street has perfect catchphrases and is never boring, but it made me realize that this type of Scorsese movie (starting with Casino) is great to watch but won’t leave you with lasting impression. Shutter Island, dark and mystical, perfectly escalated, with a surprising, sophisticatedly ambiguous ending, is much closer to my heart, and I consider it Scorcese’s masterpiece. (2014-01-16)

Fear and loathing in New York. Good old Scorsese remains true to himself, yet he’s rejuvenated through over-the-top decadent stylization, speech and, indeed, the content of individual scenes. It begins as a cynically satirical and amoral demystification of the American capitalist dream, not unlike There Will Be Blood. It continues as a pure junkie comedy on par with Trainspotting. And it ends with a variation on Catch Me If You Can. And as incompatible as these individual threads may seem, Scorsese's (and, in no small part, DiCaprio's) greatest achievement is that it all feels like one cohesive whole. This is also due to the fact that there isn’t a moment to exhale for three hours; at least for the duration of projection. After that, you have to be honest that even though there isn't a single boring or bad scene in it, some could stand being edited out. It also depends on whether you think that Scorsese is glorifying Belfort or that he is satirically doing the exact opposite. But damn it, it's such outrageous fun, with something for everyone; from freakin’ self reflection through its frickin’ cinephilic form to fuckin’ gut-busting scenes. (2013-12-27)