Wall Street (1987)

Life Mirrors Art

Writer-director Oliver Stone aptly depicts the culture of corporate greed and those who lead that rat pack in an exploration of the morality of placing profits over people.

Michael Douglas does a superb job in portraying corporate raider Gordon Gecko, a 1980s-era, larger-than-life figure who will stop at nothing to quench his thirst professionally and personally. Charlie Sheen is the young Wall Street broker who beats the odds to become a protege of this iconic figure, but becomes entwined in a web trust, truth and doing the right thing with his blue-collar father, played by Martin Sheen.

The white-collar party seems to have no end, as those willing to play the game by day will be rewarded with riches that millions can only dream about. Life mirrors art as the price of pop culture glory is played off the harsh ramifications to the faceless living paycheck-to-paycheck on Main Street.

It is - sadly - a timeless theme when Wall Street becomes a bunker for the greedy few and not an avenue for the many. October 10, 2008

Fantastic storyline and acting by Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen

I'm not going to repeat all the accolades already given this movie. But one glaring miscast as having also been mentioned before - Daryl Hannah as Darien Taylor, was absolutely horrible in this film. I agree that Sean Young (Kate Gekko) should have switched parts with Hannah.

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko and Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox were excellent. The very touching scene between Bud and his dad Carl (Martin Sheen) in the hospital was one of the more memorable in this great movie. October 5, 2008

Wall Street's reptile ethics

"...ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind."

Time to dust off an old classic! Well not so old. After all, the decade that WALL STREET famously and entertainingly captured with it's Reagan-era credo that "greed is good" is still so very much with us in so many ways. And of coarse it is because that is the American way.

This is one of Oliver Stone's best. Maybe his best. Results are so very mixed with him. As has been said countless times Michael Douglas is superb as one of cinema's all time great villains.

September 30, 2008

Applies to recent crisis

Even though this film is over 20 years old it is still relevant.

It really shows what drives the markets, even with today's stronger regulations.

Also, it is a great film, with real jeapody and tension.

It was a large influence on my own film, Capitalism - The Movie. September 21, 2008

Classic film on the Wall Street excesses of the 1980s

Brilliant time capsule of the 1980s and Wall Street hustlers in particular, anchored by a riveting performance by Michael Douglas as slash and burn big shot Gordon Gekko. Like Platoon the script is filled with over-the-top dialogue - "Who am I?" says Bud Fox (Gekko's protege played by Charlie Sheen) at one point. Nevertheless Stone captures the excess and furious pace of the period.
Aside from the film, what makes the 20th Anniversary Edition really worth the price of admission is the "extras":
- A deeply revealing and frank director's commentary from Stone following on from the excellent ones he has done for Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July.
- Two documentaries on the making of the film.
- Deleted scenes including optional commentary from Stone. September 8, 2008

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