MovieChat Forums > The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) Discussion > Scorsese's best film since The Aviator

Scorsese's best film since The Aviator

posted 7 years ago by sabita (20)
18 replies | jump to latest

Let's not mince our words, Jordan Belfort is a repellent character. He destroys people's lives in order to enrich himself and his friends by selling them penny stock. He then lives a luxury lifestyle, buying all the toys that a playboy needs, including mansions, fast cars and the requisite trophy wife.

It's a testimony to Scorsese's skill as a director that he has crafted such a compelling story. Leonardo Di Caprio proves yet again that he is in a class by himself. We watch in horror at the behaviour of Belfort and his cronies as they sink deeper into debauchery and criminality, and still we laugh. I laughed my head off at their escapades, even though I recognised that these men are scum without any redeeming qualities.

[–] brux (14840) 7 years ago

I can't stand Scorsese or most of his movies.
This was one of the particularly bad ones.

[–] letess (1824) 3 years ago

Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Mean Streets, Gangs of New York…

[–] brux (14840) 3 years ago

I liked the first half of "The Departed", it was incredibly choreographed, like a dance, but it went to hell. His movies are just not the kind of movies I prefer. I kind of associate Scorsese with the exploitation of violence in American movies ... and the decline of America.

[–] letess (1824) 3 years ago

Departed wasn’t his best as it was a remake of the Chinese film Infernal Affairs which was much better. I think making a good movie is an art, and Scorsese is one of the best in all of cinema. There are so many great directors - especially foreign ones that it is nice to know that he’s one of America’s best. Raging Bull is one of the best movies ever made, and it is Jack LaMotta’s bio. I will never understand how Rocky beat out Taxi Driver, let alone Network and All the President’s Men.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I like many of Scorsese's films, but The Aviator? Really? I can appreciate that you liked it, but I thought it was very limp, especially compared to many of his other works.

Have yet to see The Wolf of Wall Street, aside from clips here and there. Some day I'll see it, although I doubt I'll laugh my head off at the escapades. Then again, you never know, perhaps I will.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 7 years ago

I've probably only seen half of his films, but The Aviator is my second favorite behind Goodfellas.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Why?

[–] TexasJack (12516) 7 years ago

It's a story about a true pioneer. I thought it was visually stunning and brilliantly recreated the world HH lived in; it felt very real. The scene where he crashed was one of the best fx sequences I've ever seen. Leo's performance was outstanding and, again, felt very real. I found it inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. How someone with such debilitating phobias was able to achieve so much, and the manner in which he did it just amazed me. Here's a guy who was paralyzed with fear at the prospect of touching the door handle in a bathroom, and yet set records as a test pilot in experimental aircraft even after he survived a crash.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

"I thought it was visually stunning and brilliantly recreated the world HH lived in; it felt very real. The scene where he crashed was one of the best fx sequences I've ever seen. Leo's performance was outstanding and, again, felt very real."

This I can appreciate, although I don't share your opinion.

"How someone with such debilitating phobias was able to achieve so much, and the manner in which he did it just amazed me. Here's a guy who was paralyzed with fear at the prospect of touching the door handle in a bathroom, and yet set records as a test pilot in experimental aircraft even after he survived a crash."

This, however, and it being "a story about a true pioneer," has nothing to do with the film, save as subject matter, but with your personal admiration for Hughes.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 7 years ago

...which developed largely as a result of the impact of watching this film.

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 7 years ago

To me it was one of the worst films I've ever seen, and DiCaprio is one of the worst actors of all time.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

The Aviator or The Wolf of Wall Street? If the former, this may be one of the rare times you and I agree, although I couldn't say it was one of the worst films I've ever seen, only that it was meh.

I have no objection to DiCaprio in general. I liked him in The Great Gatsby, and thought he was good in Titanic.

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 7 years ago

Wolf.

[–] Jehosaphet (1063) 7 years ago

Calling DiCaprio one of the worst actors of all time just makes you look silly IMO. He's one of the highest paid actors BECAUSE he's such a good actor. He was a better actor than most adults when playing the little kid in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. DiCaprio is known for his acting talent...that's just a fact.
I could see you saying you didn't like his technique, or just didn't care for him on some kind of personal preference level, but "one of the worst actors of all time" is just being stupid.
Give me a break lol

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 7 years ago

Go watch golden age films, or Marlon Brando, or Michael Fassbender for a modern take, then maybe you'll learn what acting is, and yes, I stand by my point, DiCaprio is one of the worst actors of all time.

[–] letess (1824) 3 years ago

DiCaprio’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was one of the finest performances in all of cinema. Brando stands alone. Fassbender’s Shame is magnificent, but I don’t think you can put Fassbender in with Brando just yet.

[–] ArmadilloKnight (456) 7 years ago

Not sure about it being his best since The Aviator, but it's now one of my favorite movies of all time. Just because it's so funny. The acting is hilarious. I just wish it was shorter, I don't think I have watched it from beginning to ending more than two times, it's exhausting. The movie is heavy in dialogues/monologues.

[–] olioz (3865) 7 years ago

It's also one of my favourite movies of all time. And to me it's Scorsese's best film. Dicaprio is my favourite actor and this is my second favourite from him.