"
greed, for lack of a better word, is good."
The classic line delivered by the wicked financial wizard Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone's 1987 classic Wall Street has become immortalised as one of the most popular movie quotes in the history of American cinema. Unfortunately, there is nothing memorable in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is out of federal prison, following eight years of incarceration for insider trading. The film begins in 2008, just before the global financial crisis, and Gekko is on a mission to warn the public of the imminent economic meltdown. After one of his speeches, Gekko is approached by Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf), who tells him that he is going to marry his estranged daughter Winnie Gekko (Carey Mulligan).
From thereon, the film splits in two directions. The main plot involves Gekko trying to reunite with his daughter through Jake. This story is supposed to be a love/family theme within the film's financial backdrop. This is the most problematic and truly unnecessary part of the film. Instead of Oliver Stone digging deep and examining the failings of the capitalist system and truly condemning the culture of 'moral hazard' displayed by the big financial institutions, he goes for sentimentality. Stone who has directed such classics as Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and JKF (1991), is way below par with his latest project.
The other more interesting and stronger side of the film is the financial stuff we see, mostly through Jake's eyes, a young Wall Street guy who is living and breathing in the toxic environment of subprime mortgages, leveraged finance and good old fashioned egomaniacal greed of Corporate America.
The biggest strength of the original film was Michael Douglas (on Oscar Winning form), who tore up the screen with his presence. In this film, Douglas is underused, and it is a shame because he is the best thing in the film.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps does not know what it is trying to say, and it goes soft at the end, failing to convey a message on the 2008 'Great Recession' and the culprits behind it. Ooh yeah, and the ending sucks
VERDICT: 6/10 (Mild Recommendation).
The classic line delivered by the wicked financial wizard Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone's 1987 classic Wall Street has become immortalised as one of the most popular movie quotes in the history of American cinema. Unfortunately, there is nothing memorable in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is out of federal prison, following eight years of incarceration for insider trading. The film begins in 2008, just before the global financial crisis, and Gekko is on a mission to warn the public of the imminent economic meltdown. After one of his speeches, Gekko is approached by Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf), who tells him that he is going to marry his estranged daughter Winnie Gekko (Carey Mulligan).
From thereon, the film splits in two directions. The main plot involves Gekko trying to reunite with his daughter through Jake. This story is supposed to be a love/family theme within the film's financial backdrop. This is the most problematic and truly unnecessary part of the film. Instead of Oliver Stone digging deep and examining the failings of the capitalist system and truly condemning the culture of 'moral hazard' displayed by the big financial institutions, he goes for sentimentality. Stone who has directed such classics as Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and JKF (1991), is way below par with his latest project.
The other more interesting and stronger side of the film is the financial stuff we see, mostly through Jake's eyes, a young Wall Street guy who is living and breathing in the toxic environment of subprime mortgages, leveraged finance and good old fashioned egomaniacal greed of Corporate America.
The biggest strength of the original film was Michael Douglas (on Oscar Winning form), who tore up the screen with his presence. In this film, Douglas is underused, and it is a shame because he is the best thing in the film.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps does not know what it is trying to say, and it goes soft at the end, failing to convey a message on the 2008 'Great Recession' and the culprits behind it. Ooh yeah, and the ending sucks
VERDICT: 6/10 (Mild Recommendation).