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“The Wolf of Wall Street” netted headlines earlier this year for the industry pressure put on Martin Scorsese to trim his final cut. All told, the latest collaboration between the director and Leonardo DiCaprio still clocks in at three hours; however, it’s such a densely and meticulously packed beast of a film that it’s hard to envision, much less suggest, what ought to be deleted.
An American horror story, “Wolf” recounts the indescribably hedonistic lifestyle of Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), an ex-broker whose book inspired the movie, and who tore through the 1990s devouring all he desired, his exploits fueled by epic stock-market fraud crimes. Scorsese’s depiction of this specific world is the most disturbing the cinema has ever seen, and though it’s largely shaped as a comedy, the humor is so pitch black and wryly embedded within atrocities that it’s often imperceptible.
Though “Wolf” is, from my perspective, a biting indictment of Belfort’s ways, it’s been dividing critics who find themselves grappling with all the unbridled revelry, and whether Scorsese truly condones or condemns the demonic swagger of his protagonist. Indeed, such is what makes “Wolf” both troubling and terribly fascinating, as never before have Scorsese’s views of his characters been more shrewdly veiled. (No exaggeration: The brokers in “Wolf” make the director’s gangsters look tame.)
Somewhere between the haunting image of an office worker opting to have her head shaved for money, and the palpable gut-punch Jordan delivers to his trophy wife Naomi (Margot Robbie), the greed-bolstered misogyny of “Wolf” becomes incredibly hard to take. This may be wholly intended, but it make the film’s tricky mix that much more precarious, as does a Quaalude-induced bit of slapstick paralysis, which is being hailed as comic brilliance, but is far too broad for a man of Scorsese’s talents.
Here’s the upswing: “Wolf” features a staggering, best-ever performance from DiCaprio, who can safely be called one of the finest actors in the biz. And that contentious running time contains a text of infinite readings, which will keep film buffs busy for years to come.
The Wolf of Wall Street
R
Two-and-a-half reels out of four
Now playing at area theaters
Recommended Rental
I’m So Excited!
R
Available Tuesday
With “I’m So Excited!” legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar takes a break from thrilling melodrama to deliver a lark akin to those he made in the late 1980s. With zero inhibitions and a shamelessly madcap tone, he flaunts the misadventures of a potentially doomed aircraft’s crew and passengers, who’ll engage in anything — sex, drugs, you name it — to distract from the troubles at hand. Call it a tacky, purgatorial commentary on Spanish culture, and perhaps, life itself.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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