(Foot note - Since starting this review, I have since seen "Killer Joe", which I highly recommend, and in that film there were some pretty unpleasant characters, so I guess I have answered my own question re. liking a film with unlikeable characters)
Jordan Belfort started his career as a StockBroker at a special time, Black Monday, when an enormous amount of money was wiped from the Stock Exchange. He gets his working life back on track, starting at the bottom but with the experience he gained he soon is riding high with massive success and a huge bank balance.
He starts his own company and revels in the excesses of the World that he works within, and those closest to him, both at home and at work share in those excesses too. It soon reaches the stage where he is making so much money that he does not know what to do with it all. He hatches a plot whereby the money will be smuggled to Switzerland, with a little help from his Wife's Aunt.
But this kind of activity naturally arouses the suspicions of the FBI, and soon enough they come knocking at Jordan's door.
Considering that sat in the Director's chair is all time great Martin Scorsese, it may surprise many as to how funny the film is, at times laugh out loud, I know that Mr. DiCaprio was surprised to be nominated as Best Actor in a comedy at the Golden Globes. It feels like quite a departure for Marty, but one that is handled with his great brilliance, keen eye, and usual cinematic style. But if one was to see the film without knowing who the Director was, I feel sure that one of the last names to come to mind would be Mr. Scorsese.
It pulls no punches, it is brash, loud, fast, and illustrates the excessive lifestyle that these people had during that time, and probably still have today.
Performance wise, Scorsese has gone with his regular lead actor, and who can blame him quite frankly, as Mr DiCaprio is quite simply the best actor of his generation. Time and time again, in so many varied roles he shows to be an actor who knows his craft, and is at the very top of his game, and his work as Jordan Belfoort is no exception. I still find it remarkable that he has yet to bag an Academy Award, as it is so richly deserved. Just look at his earlier work in "What's Eating GIlbert Grape?" to see why. And he has matured into a truly fine actor.
There is great support too from Jean DuJardin to Margot Robbie, but most notably Jonah Hill who plays' Donnie, Jordan's second in command. He does provide quite a bit of the humour, but it is not just a comedic performance, it stands out and shows what a versatile actor he is.
Overall a good film, not over long, the three hours soon fly by, but it is one that now I have seen it, I have no major desire to see again. Maybe this is one wolf with not enough bite........7 out of 10
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