The Wolf of Wall Street
dir. Martin Scorsese · 2013
The pursuit of wealth and excess can lead to moral decay and personal downfall, highlighting the emptiness of a life driven solely by greed.
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Comedic / Dark
Look
vibrant, opulent, and kinetic visuals with a glossy sheen
Structure
episodic with a non-linear timeline
Plot
A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography.
Why watch
"The Wolf of Wall Street" is a wildly entertaining descent into the madness of excess, where humor meets moral decay in a captivating critique of capitalism. With Martin Scorsese at the helm, this film is a rollercoaster of hedonism that leaves viewers questioning the price of ambition and the allure of the American Dream.
Cultural context
critique of Wall Street excessreflections on the 2008 financial crisisrise of anti-hero narrativesexploration of the American Dream gone awry