The Wolf of Wall Street

The first lines of The Wolf of Wall Street could easily have been “For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be a stockbroker”. Actually, that’s not quite true. Better yet, the first lines could have been “For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be rich” but even then, that doesn’t quite get to the heart of what Jordan Belfort is after. I think the line “For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be rich so I could do whatever I wanted” is more fitting. The film doesn’t have to say this line though, it conveys this much more effectively showing midgets being thrown at targets and cocaine being snorted off a hooker. The insanity and depravity is in full gear from the get go, it’s best to just strap in and enjoy the ride.

Wolf is less a movie about the inner workings of Wall Street and more about greed, excess, and ego. Belfort isn’t in pursuit of money for the sake of attaining the traditional American dream (nice house, white picket fence, etc.), he’s after the new American dream, power, money, and freedom to do as he pleases without thinking of the consequences. Long gone are the days of a man making an honest living, the only way to get ahead on Wall Street is to cheat and no one is better at that than Jordan Belfort. As someone who studied finance, this movie really shows all of the reasons why I didn’t want to pursue a career in stocks or on Wall Street.

DiCaprio plays Belfort perfectly. Charismatic, energizing, but at the same time shallow and manipulative. The way Leo gives his all for this role is remarkable. This is hands down the best he’s ever been. He’s fully committed to the big physical scenes, including what will surely be seen as one of the best drug related scenes in film, but also brings the nuance required to be convincing in some of the more emotional scenes. It’s hard not to feel pumped up when Belfort is motivating his brokers and that energy could have come off as trying too hard or stale in another actor’s hands but Leo brings the right level of enthusiasm without going over the top.

Excess is a strong theme throughout the film be it drugs, hookers, houses, yachts, cars and even the running time is a lofty three hours. What the film never is though is boring or preachy. Yes, it shows all sorts of acts of debauchery and the consequences of those acts but it never is melodramatic about them or even condemning. The film respects the viewer’s intelligence in handling these scenes of excess. It leaves it up to us, the audience to condemn or condone these acts. Many people respect and even worship those who make a lot of money and it’s important for films like this to exist to show that money alone doesn’t make a person worthy of respect.

What was most surprising about The Wolf of Wall Street is that it’s one of the funniest movies of the year, definitely the funniest that Scorsese has made (I know he’s not known for comedy but there is After Hours…and I think that’s it). All the actors are game for the crazy antics and help make things that are utterly ridiculous seem fairly normal. It’s refreshing to see Scorsese still make movies that are edgy and controversial. Some of his peers seem to have their craft diminish as they have gotten older but Scorsese is still a master and Wolf is an admirable entry in his already great filmography. This may be the most exhausting three hours I’ve spent all year at the movies but it was definitely the most fun.

Man of Steel

Despite being the quintessential super hero, Superman may be the most misunderstood of all the comic book leads. He’s an alien, with godlike strength and abilities. He’s an example of perfection in an imperfect world. He’s supposed to represent everything that mankind aspires to achieve. But how can Superman be relatable and engaging enough to audiences? There is little suspense in any Superman story. With unlimited abilities any villain or catastrophe doesn’t stand a chance. Man of Steel represents the first Superman movie in the post Nolan-Batman era. The camp and absurdity of super hero movies is long gone. People want gritty, realistic super hero movies that aren’t just made for kids. Man of Steel is the first attempt to make a Superman that exists in the “real world”.

The film starts very far away from the real world on the planet Krypton. Here, we’re introduced to Jor-El and Zod and the whole backbone for Superman and the entire movie begins with the planet being destroyed and Zod being banished. The origin of Superman is fairly well known but it’s shown with a lot of intensity here. There are massive explosions and the film delves into deep science fiction with futuristic gadgets and mythical creatures. It’s unlike any Superman origin that’s ever been portrayed. These actions sequences are almost too much at times with high levels of effects and huge stunts. Jor-El, and seemingly everyone on Krypton, becomes an action hero. There’s too much action going on, any time there’s a lull for even a minute it feels like some big action piece wedges itself in. The action starts here and doesn’t seem to end.

After what seems to be a life time, Superman’s story on Earth finally begins. He’s a drifter, going from odd job to odd job to find himself as he look for clues to where he’s from and why he is the way he is.  What really lacks once we get to Earth is that connection Superman has with his adoptive parents the Kents. If we are to have any link to Superman it’s through them and there isn’t enough of that relationship development to give Superman his humanity. If anything, the father son relationship is damaging as Pa Kent continually tells Clark to hide his abilities and not let the world see who he truly is. Clark is being taught to fear mankind instead of connecting with it.

The strongest part of the movie is Michael Shannon as Zod. He’s a tremendous actor and he’s brings a lot of intensity to the role. Zod’s motivation is the most compelling part of the film. He’s trying to save his people based on how he’s been bred and trained, through bloodshed and warfare. He isn’t at all threatened by the people of Earth, they’re just an obstacle in his path to preserve Krypton. There have been many wars and deaths in human history due to this sort of self-preservation and it’s with this dynamic where the film is able to exist most in the real world.

Perhaps what makes the movie not reach the levels that it aspires for is the sheer amount of carnage and destruction that takes place. There’s scene after scene of intense battles where entire city blocks are laid completely to waste. It’s as if the only way to create any sort of stakes or interest in the film is to keep the action coming. These scenes are well crafted and visually impressive, Zack Snyder’s specialty, but they are far too frequent and don’t leave any breathing room to process what’s happened. It feels less like a Superman movie and more like something Michael Bay would make.

I had high hopes that Christopher Nolan would bring his incredible story telling ability to this project as a producer but with all the action and explosions it seems that Zack Snyder won out. I’m a big fan of Snyder’s visuals, I really am but that’s not enough to sustain interest in Man of Steel. Yes, it’s big and impressive and flashy but it lacks heart or anything compelling to keep audiences interested. Henry Cavill does fine as Superman, he definitely looks the part, but he’s given very little to do besides punch people. This Superman is still very alien and is no more than cheap thrills.

Frances Ha

The coming of age story has always defined independent films. Journeys of self-discovery are extremely relatable and compelling. On the surface, Frances Ha appears to be another typical go around but it’s much deeper than that. Our introduction to Frances is very whimsical. She lives with her best friend and spends time frolicking in the park and following her dreams working as a dancer. She looks to be living the dream life in New York City. However, all is not well in this dream world. She has little money, breaks up with her boyfriend, and can’t seem to make progress in her dancing career. Her best friend and everyone else around her are moving forward while Frances continues to dance in circles.

Because of financial and friendship drama, Frances is continually moving, never really able to settle down in one place for too long. She doesn’t have the financial support that her roommates and friends do but she attempts to live the same poor artist lifestyle while trying to find a way to pay for food or rent. She’s amazed that anyone could find motivation to even leave the house. In her struggles, we see the struggles of many 20 somethings now. She is such a bold reflection of the crises that many of us of that age group are going through. She has dreams she wants to attain but doesn’t really do anything to pursue them. Having the dream is enough for her, achieving it seems inevitable so why would she need to put forth the effort to get there? Asking for more opportunities to teach classes is enough for her and can make her feel like she’s done something, despite the fact that her offer is declined.

What struck me the most was a very small moment but this small moment speaks volumes to the plight of all my fellow 20 somethings. At a restaurant, Frances attempts to pay for food but can’t since she doesn’t have a credit card. She offhandedly says “I’m not like a real person yet” and it hits right on the mark. We don’t know how to be real people. No one taught us or we were too stubborn to listen. Frances runs aimlessly through the city, looking for any ATM to get money out of, even if that means paying the transaction fee. In a way, that’s how she lives her life, running aimlessly and having to pay unexpected consequences for not being equipped to handle life. It’s only once that she stops dreaming and starts living in the real world that she’s finally able to achieve her goals and fulfill her ambitions.

I can’t express how much that message resonated with me, as someone with lofty dreams but no real direction to make them happen. Something else that sets this film apart from other coming of age stories is the lack of romantic interest in the movie. It’s not a film about finding someone who makes you happy but rather taking the steps to make yourself happy. Life isn’t a fairytale and it’s foolish to expect it to be.

What really helps make this all work is Great Gerwig’s performance. She’s very likable despite all her missteps and whimsy. She’s able to avoid being too cute for her own good and is a full developed character. We understand why she makes the decisions she makes, even if we don’t agree with them. The film is in black and white which could potential be pretentious but this actually helps the film and its themes have an ageless quality to them. It seems almost timeless. We’ve gone through all these feelings and experiences before, now it’s time to look forward.  

This is the End

It’s easy to assume that “This is the End” is nothing but a self-indulgent “circle jerk” filled with too many inside jokes to be funny in the relatable way that makes the “Apatow” comedies so successful. While there are some slight shades of smugness, the movie is very funny and still able to be relatable, despite the premise of following Hollywood actors through the apocalypse.

The set up and story make “This is the End” very unique. Rapture comedy may have just become a new genre. It starts with Jay Baruchel coming to LA to visit his old, and now quite successful, friend Seth Rogen for a weekend of weed, junk food and video games. Despite Jay resisting, Seth convinces him to go to a party at James Franco’s new place, which is filled with Seth’s new friends who Jay doesn’t get along with. The party does offer some great comedic moments. Michael Cera is uncharacteristically shallow and coked out, harassing anyone with whom he comes in contact with. The rest of the party offers some great cameos from other top comedians but it seems like more could be done with the little screen time these cameos get. Aziz Ansari, for example, appears shortly but doesn't really do anything with his time on screen. There are a lot of recognizable faces but a lot of them just seem like props. We want to see all of these actors show their comedic ability and it’s irritating that many of the cameos seem wasted.

The party comes to a premature end when the rapture begins. Of course, it's initially unclear that it's the rapture but there’s definitely heavy shit going down be it sink holes, earthquakes or massive fires. Only a few survive and must hold up in James Franco’s house until they, hopefully, get rescued. This may be stating the obvious but if you don’t like these actors or think they’re funny then you’re going to have a bad time. These actors are excellent improvisers and also really funny. This is what they do best in all their films. If someone isn't on board with that then they certainly won’t be won over here. As for me, I love all these actors and it is a treat to hang out with them for a couple hours. It’s such a strength that they’re playing themselves so the references are real and funny, especially when they dig into each-other’s personal lives and movies. There are some great extended back and forth moments that keep going and keep getting funnier, an exchange between James Franco and Danny McBride about bodily fluids comes to mind.

What surprised me was how relatable the movie is, despite the grandeur of its premise and actors. At its core, it’s a movie about friendship. We’ve all had friends who try to incorporate us into their new group of friends, despite the fact that it feels forced and neither party really wants it. I totally empathize with Jay when he goes to the party where he hates everyone and just wants to leave. I’ve been through that and it makes the moments of people trying to be extra nice or ditching him resonate very strong.

If the film suffers from anything it’s in the bottleneckedness of the location. This does allow it to feel more like a hang out but it gets to a point where the setting and story seem stagnant and slightly tedious. While there are many funny lines there seemed to be a lack of any real memorable lines that will be quoted for years to come. I’m scouring my brain and able to think of moments but no lines really stick out like they did in Superbad for example. It’s still very funny and very offensive but it doesn't quite reach the classic comedy levels that it very well could have.