Wall Street achieved iconic status back in 1987 with Michael Douglas’ (as Gordon Gekko) slogan: “Greed is Good.” The sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, tries to capture the amoral Wall Street ethos that led to the near-collapse of our economic system. Gordon Gekko’s release from prison triggers a series of events involving Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, and Frank Langella that director Oliver Stone attempts to use as a microcosm of our current financial crisis. However, I found the Real Life drama of Michael Douglas’ battle with throat cancer to be more compelling every time Douglas was on the screen. GRADE: B+
The first one never appealed to me so I will be passing this one also.
The original WALL STREET took a rather benign look at financial shenanigans, Scott. The sequel gets more down-and-dirty.
My mother said she liked Shia LaBoeuf even though he looks 12. I am defnitely not a fan of his.
I’m sure we’ll see this for Douglas, who was also good in the recent Solitary Man.
Are we looking at a second Oscar, especially considering his health issues?
I’m not a fan of Shia LaBoeuf either, Jeff. But he’s competent in this movie. There might by a sympathy vote for Michael Douglas, but his performance in this film is a shadow of his Oscar-award winning performance in WALL STREET.
Since anything with money in it goes right over my head I may skip this one. Unless they do Wall Street for Dummies.
Money is turned into drama in this film, Patti. The cast is excellent and except for an ending that drags a bit, this is worth seeing.
You’re supposed to put that outside stuff out of mind when you watch a film, George. It really has nothing to do with the script writing, acting, plot, production character of the film.
I recall liking the first one, but that was a long time ago, on VHS.
Yes, I know I’m supposed to be more objective, Rick. But knowing that Michael Douglas has Stage Four cancer is just something I couldn’t dispell while watching his fine performance.
I thought he did a really good job playing a not terribly sympathetic character in SOLITARY MAN, and he was really good in the adaptation of Michael Chabon’s WONDER BOYS in 2000. In that one the perfect casting was Tobey Maguire, who was born to play James Leer.
WONDER BOYS is an underrated movie, Jeff. You’re right about the excellent performances of Tobey Maguire and Michael Douglas. The soundtrack was pretty good, too.
Yes, Solitary Man and Wonder Boys were my favorite Douglas movies.
I also liked Michael Douglas in ROMANCING THE STONE and COMA, Patti.