It’s the early 1990’s and Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), teams up with his friend and partner Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), to start a brokerage firm, which quickly grows from a small number of staff to more than two-hundred and fifty strong. Their status in the trading community grows, while other companies begin to become envious. With this success comes attention and the need to fund lavish lifestyles, along with an FBI investigation. Can the pair maintain their elaborate lives while being watched closely by the law? A unique flick that is worth anyone’s time. The Wolf of Wall Street is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Terence Winter, Jordan Belfort
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal

Almost ten years since it’s original release in the winter of 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicts the real-life story of Jordan Belfort, the man who published a memoir of the same name in September of 2007. The Wolf of Wall Street received a total of five Oscar nominations and as of writing this review, is one of the highest rated films on IMDb.

One of the strongest aspects of the flick, if not the strongest, must be the script on display. It was engaging from start to finish and the release was littered with many memorable lines of dialogue from a wide range of different characters. One of the reasons for this could be down to the fact that the bulk of the film’s dialogue was improvised, as Martin Scorsese often encourages in his movies.

With the positives, however, there are some negatives. The picture features an excessive amount of cursing, drug and alcohol abuse and a wealth of themes relating to a sexual nature. Some will seek entertainment in these themes, while others may not. Interestingly, one review I read not too long ago regarded The Wolf of Wall Street as a film “reserved for the male species” and that’s not a notion I’d side against.

In terms of the acting, Leonardo DiCaprio adopted the role of Jordan Belfort, warranting the majority of screentime, while Margot Robbie appeared as Naomi Lapaglia, the eventual wife of Belfort. As you’d expect, the support reigned in from all directions, with Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler and Jon Bernthal being the most noteworthy, picking up the roles of Mark, Donnie, Patrick and Brad, respectively.

In reality, The Wolf of Wall Street is a very difficult film to review in just a few short paragraphs. It spans over several years and contains a vast array of information during the three-hour runtime, as well as providing a number of genuinely laugh out loud moments too. As previously noted, The Wolf of Wall Street is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

“I have been a rich man and I have been a poor man.“

Jordan Belfort – The Wolf of Wall Street