The Wolf Of Wall Street [2013] ★★★½

You don’t need to know shit about Wall Street to sink your teeth into this beast of a movie. Martin Scorsese is the man, the most exciting director of his generation, with such classics as “Raging Bull”, “The King of Comedy”, “GoodFellas” and “Casino” to prove it. Here’s the downside: any hint of dissatisfaction from critics and they’re ready to burn him at the stake. Even before “Wolf of Wall Street” opened, the angry dogs were out to get him. The movie, said the buzz, is too long (nearly 3 hours), too sexually graphic (I’m not complaining) and too damn familiar (Scorsese directing Leonard DiCaprio for the 100th time). Am I over Scorsese directing another crime (not in the literal sense) picture? Never. That’s like saying enough with Hayao Miyazaki on animation or Tarantino on violent flicks. Movies like “Wolf of Wall Street” run in Scorsese’s DNA. It’s not as brutal as “GoodFellas” or say “The Departed”. It is, however, the work of a master; bold, brutally funny and intensely alive. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, the New York stock broker who made trading his “thing” in the 1980s and ‘90s and rewarded himself and the people around him with unlimited money, sex and drugs. If that’s too much for you, buy a ticket to “A Madea Christmas” or “Bebe”. “Wolf” is a tough movie to handle, but never forget that a master filmmaker is calling the shots. Issues of sin, greed and loyalty resonate in most of Scorsese’s films. Each new film absorbs the others, creating a series of work that can compete with the all time greats. “The Wolf of Wall Street”, a defiantly bold vision of a society rotting from the inside, is one of my favorite movies of the year. No film buff would pass up the chance to watch Scorsese take on Wall Street . I’d rate it a 4 out of 4, but I don’t want to jinx it. People like to hate at perfect scores, so I’m giving it a 3 and a half. Deep down, that’s a big fucking lie. I loved every minute of it.