Make no mistake, this is a love story. A love of greed, a love of money, a love of debauchery. It’s a romcom on cocaine.
This full force assault on the senses of morality inspired by the narcissistic orgy of Wall Street on a drug fuelled bender is hollow and devoid of any lessons. There is no moment of redemption, no examination of the carnage these arseholes caused, and that has drawn some criticisms, but that doesn’t seem to be the point of the movie. It’s an exploration of how some humans are motivated by money beyond all other things, it is a clever mirror image of modern day America in all its horrific ugliness.
Leo is magnificent as Jordan Belfort, the vicious lack of morals he displays with such entertainment is obscene and Jonah Hill is just hilarious as his dead souled side kick.
This is not a cautionary tale of the immorality of Wall Street and the people it attracts, this is a cautionary tale about the elements of the human psyche that will slice anothers throat for their own selfish gains. The final shot of Belfort in Auckland giving a seminar on selling is testament to how stupid NZers are and the base depths of the darker part of our desires.
Expect no lessons, but walk away more aware of what really drives so many lauded titans of capitalism.
4 stars
