MyRating: YYYDirector: Oliver Stone
Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Eli Wallach, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and thematic elements
Michael Douglas reprises one of his most famous roles of his career as Gordon Gekko, a slick and greedy Wall Street corporate raider, a performance that won him an Oscar for Best Actor in the 1987's Wall Street. After 23 years, Oliver Stone felt the need to bring back this character because he believed that Gordon Gekko has the place in the hearts of many moviegoers, who watched the first movie and adore Michael Douglas. And to pair him with Shia LaBeouf seems to be a good choice, since Shia represents the new Hollywood Golden Boy.
This sequel revolves around the 2008 financial crisis. Gekko, who has been released from prison seven years before, has now put all the greedy 'Wall Street' world behind of him and has become a reformed man. Through his new book and lecturers, Gekko tries to warn Wall Street regarding the upcoming financial turmoil due to the unrestrained speculation and financial bubble, that will eventually lead to stock market crash. When a young and ambitious Wall Street trader, Jacob "Jake" Moore (LaBeouf), who happens to date Gekko's daughter, Winnie Gekko (Mulligan), approaches him, Gekko quickly sees the similarity of this young man with him, both a hustler. And Gekko agrees to help Jacob to seek the truth and to revenge the 'falling' of Jacob's mentor. On the other hand, Jacob will help Gekko to rebuild his relationship with his estranged daughter. The man who once said that "Greed is good" is now on his way to redeem himself.
It's not easy to make a sequel from a movie like this. It's easy to make a sequel from a successful horror movie, or an action, or a sci-fi. But not a drama with the theme of stock market, which for some people may not even provoke their interests to go and see it. More over, the first movie was already more than two decades year-old. But thanks to the character of Gordon Gekko (and thanks to Michael Douglas's solid and memorable performance), whose (awaited) re-appearance was the main reason of this sequel to be made at the first place. Like it or not, the only relevancy left for Wall Street movie that people may want to see is Gordon Gekko, since he has become a symbol of 'unrestrained greed' in our popular culture.
And the result is, quite a decent sequel. Oliver Stone was able to pull the right string, even though I have to admit that this sequel has lost some of the power and dynamic of the original movie. At some points, this movie has become more of the drama of Gordon Gekko character himself, and the young Jacob Moore, rather than the heavy drama of 'Wall Street' and its greed. But in overall, it was still an enjoyable movie. To have a little experience as a trader myself, this movie was surely relevant to me.
Now the performances. Michael Douglas, as always, gave a solid performance, as he is 'Gordon Gekko'. Here, he was more of a tamer Gekko, and its seems that we have seen most of the best parts of Gekko in the first movie. However, the turn of his character in the middle of this movie will definitely remind you of the real Gekko. As the other main character, Shia LaBeouf showed quite a decent performance himself. He has to (as he teamed up with many veteran actors here). And he did shine in his role, in his own way. Carey Mulligan, on the other hand, was a bit under-performed, since I think she did not get much room from the script.
The other solid performances came from Frank Langella as Louis Zabel, Jacob's mentor and Josh Brolin as Bretton James, the greedy hedge fund manager. While the character of Eli Wallach as Jules Steinhart, an old-timer Federal Reserve Board executive who
believes the current economic to be like the 1929 stock market crash, was a bit tickling and forced in his performance and lines. I believe not many people will remember him as the bandit head, Calvera, in The Magnificent Seven (1960). The amazing thing is, he is 95 now and still doing movies. Hands down for his total works and dedication towards the movie industry. Susan Sarandon was also under utilized as Jacob's mother, as she is only in a supporting role. And finally, there was a special appearance by Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox, the main character of the first movie. His short face-off and dialog with Gekko was interesting.
This is a good movie for nostalgia. Someone reminded me, I once said "Greed is good". Now it seems it's legal. Because everyone is drinking the same Kool Aid (Gordon Gekko). (MJ)
