Known for directing such gritty films such as 1990’s “Goodfellas” and 2007’s Oscar winning mob thriller “The Departed,” Martin Scorsese has danced with the idea of pushing the envelope. With the release of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” audiences are able to delve into the loosely based true story of how successful nineties stockbroker Jordan Belfort spiraled from the high life to prison.
Seemingly to be Scorsese’s highest grossing film to date, the film’s cast has been thrust into damage control mode due to the controversial content.
Rapidly becoming one of the most debated films of the award season, the film adaptation of the book “Wolf of Wall Street” follows the happenings of Jordan Belfort, (Leonardo DiCaprio) a wildly obnoxious stockbroker, and his various dealings with his colleagues.
Scorsese’s portrayal of Wall Street has left many audience members speechless. Audiences were expecting to see a “take no prisoner” stockbroker who schooled his colleagues in the ways of the stock market. However, the audience views a film that instead is a smorgasbord of profanity, excess money spending, sex and drug usage with a little stock market references sprinkled in.
Amongst Belfort’s (DiCaprio) recklessness, his colleague and business partner, Danny Porush (Jonah Hill), receives heavy critic backlash due to a solo sex scene with the use of a prosthetic and his questionable behavior throughout the film.
Scorsese likes to portray his ideas through his characters in an un-glamorized manner that causes audiences to leave and discuss the concept and ultimate themes of the film. Nevertheless, the disturbing thrill ride of WOWS may have been the tea that “poured out.”
Since the film’s release, its stars have been speaking out in defense of the film due to the social media reports of outrage and audience members walking out of the theater due to the overly scandalous content. Jonah Hill has been quoted as totally not agreeing with the character’s antics, but wanting viewers to see accurate accounts of the lifestyles of the people who were not accounted for.
The movie shows an accurate account, however, of the rise and fall of success and how greed and power can consume like gangrene, rapidly spreading if the leadership is not intact.
Though the message is overshadowed due to the constant dissecting of X-Rated content, can Scorsese add this film to his extensive list of cult classics? The increasing attendance of potential viewers steadily flocking to see the film amidst the controversy proves that “controversy sells.”
Separating the ideals of fact or fiction within the film helps to guide audiences through the fast paced ride. As a director, could it have been Scorsese’s goal to create such an infamous film? You be the judge, but watch out for the Wolf’s bite!
