D: Oliver Stone
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Daryl Hannah, Martin Sheen
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/
"A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider whom takes the youth under his wing." --imdb.com
Charlie Sheen play's 'Bud Fox' in this tale of the American Wall Street. He starts out as a broker desperately selling something over the phone but dreams of a brighter (greener) future. Michael Douglas plays 'Gordon Gecko', Bud's key to all his dreams.
It's another 'grow-to-success-then-fail' story, which is quite recognisable to Hollywood. Bud wants nothing but to be successful and he begins to sacrifice his humanity and his dad's airline to get there. Bud's dad's played Martin Sheen.
My interests first rose in the film after hearing about a sequel coming out (thanks TheMovieBlog.com!). Some people refer to this film with nostalgia, and I can see why. Wall Street is very 1980's. You've really got some terrible stuff: the horrendous hairstyles and clothing, way people talk and act, not to mention the way Bud's 'luxury condo' gets decorated. Also, Daryl Hannah is to me a face from the 80s as these days her looks would probably be considered just quirky. And the things she wears in this film... Oh well, she does an OK job at acting, which is naturally the most important part.
Overall though, the acting in this film is surprisingly tame. Some scenes resemble more awkward moments than scenes where top Hollywood actors meet to carry the story on convincingly. Naturally, the only actor to pull everything off without a hitch is Michael Douglas. His performance is flawless all the way out, although its a role we've seen him play again and again after this for quite a few times. Charlie Sheen is just weird at times and nothing really explains his odd acting. He's still like that, so I guess people like him. Another shiner, though is most definitely Martin Sheen. He pulls his role of superbly and it was cool to see him, the down-to-earth, fight-for-workers'-rights kind of guy go head to head with corporate raider Martin Douglas. Just classic.
To me the theme of money & success is interesting, but to those who don't find business or lifestyle interesting can pass on this film. I suppose the film carries on pretty swiftly, avoiding almost entirely that chasm that always sinks into a story just before they pull the plug on the rising-to-success -bit of the film. There's some of that here as well, but in my view for example Scarface suffers from just this problem more notably.
It's not a very good film, but its above average. Pick it up if it interests you the slightest. It's a classic anyway.
Michael Douglas generates yet another killing with 'Wall Street' grossing 4.1million USD on its opening weekend in '87.
3/5
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