Wall Street

Rating:
Summary: "Somebody has to pay and it ain't gonna be me"
Review: I just finished writing a 12 page analysis of "Wall Street" and how it represents American cultural myths on-screen, such as Social Darwinism, the Protestant Ethic, and the idea of status. I had a choice of any film, and I felt this film said more about American culture than any other. I think that although its message is a little ambiguous and preachy (Carl Fox may be more moral, but in the end, he never gets the fame and power that is so important in our culture now), it is overall a great film. Michael Douglas has now been typecast as the Gordon Gekko character in almost all of his films now, due to the successful portrayal of the greedy businessman in this film. I also think that Charlie Sheen gave an amazing performance in this film, and his personal moral struggle is really the heart of the film. He was only 22 when he made the film, which is quite impressive, given the depth of his character. I think that we have backed away from the greed of the 1980s just a little bit, and I can't help wonder if that is due in part to this rather influential film. On another note, if you liked this film, the newer film "Boiler Room" deals with similar issues, and there is even a scene where corrupt stocktraders quote Gekko word for word while watching "Wall Street", which is perhaps the best scene in that film.

Rating:
Summary: Life Follows Art.
Review: I write this review after I lost 25% of my retirement fund in yesterday's Wild Ride. The only thing i could think of is the scene where Gekko is standing at the window, and says "Dump it. Dump it all!" This movie has some astonishing performances, Michael Douglas and also the supporting cast. Martin Sheen is often overlooked as Bud Fox's hardworking, blue collar Dad. The director makes wonderful use of New York City locations and the natural light you can never duplicate in a sound studio or Toronto. Sylvia Miles steals the short scenes she is in. Being in sales, I strongly identify the scenes where Bud is cold calling on the phone and trying to hang onto his job and his American Express account. A masterpiece!

Rating:
Summary: Should've been called ANTI-WALL STREET
Review: Director Oliver Stone, the quintessential American left-winger, delivers a nasty critique of Wall Street. Indeed, this movie is vociferously anti-capitalist. Oliver Stone clearly had an agenda with this one, as he has with many of his movies. Stone is more concerned with the agenda than he is with the actual film.

Stone delivers a number of myths with this film, for instance that wealth is a "zero-sum game", or that America is a "second-rate power". Gekko's allegedly pro-capitalist arguments are done so poorly that you have to realize that Stone had a major agenda with this movie. It's amazing that American corporations produce this stuff.

Note that Martin Sheen's character is Stone's mouthpiece. Stone agrees with everything he says.

Oliver Stone hates Wall Street, he hates capitalism, and he hates America.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific movie about insider trading.
Review: This movie is a terrific and interesting movie about how anyone can get caught up in money and corruption.

Rating:
Summary: Greed is GOOD
Review: Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas) commands the attention and respect of not only the characters in the movie, but the audience as well. The viewer gets captivated into the seduction of a high rolling lifestyle and can understand Buddy's (Charlie Sheen) desire to become one of the sharks. A true tale of a hungry starter in the biggest business in the world becoming what he's always dreamed of becoming, although under false foundation. Buddy soon realizes that his foundation and backing does not equal that of Gecko's which lands him and his dreams alongside each other duing his quick downfall. A Power Broker's Pawn or the Hungry Young Broker not reassuring his meteroic rise? You decide! A MUST SEE for ANY business person!

Rating:
Summary: WALL STREET POWER ON DVD. WHERE IS IT?
Review: I want to first say that this is one of my favorite movies. This movie is about greed,deception,power,money,it shows that man will pretty much do anything to get to the top. It does'nt get much better than this. Michael Douglas won a most rewarding oscar for the excellent performance he put on. I am just getting very frustrated with the fact that this is still not available on dvd yet. Please get this out soon! Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Story of the 80's Wall Street Success Myth
Review: This film was quite fun to watch and I enjoyed it. Douglass and Sheen gave excellent performances, and Gordon Gekko had some classic lines(My personal favorite: A fool and his money are lucky enough to get together in the first place).

However, as much as I'd recommend this film for it's entertainment value, as a professional trader who has been making his living from trading stocks and commodities for his own personal account for the past twelve years, I have to say that this film does more to perpetuate every myth and psychological bias that causes the majority of people to LOSE money in the markets than just about any other film I can think of. Chief among them in this film is that inside information is required or even desirable in many cases in order to make money. This may just be a reflection of the biases of it's director, but IMO, a bit more in depth research and the inclusion of another character, for contrast's sake, of a successful, honest trader and his or her methods would not have gone amiss. I kept hoping this would develop in the character of Lou Manheim, but it never did. Bottom line: Very entertaining story, but it ain't no success manual. More like a study of what not to do to win on Wall Street.

Rating:
Summary: Capitalism at its Finest
Review: Absolutely fantastic. All you folks in the finance industry out there - watch this movie three times a day, everyday, after meals. Adam Smith ("The Wealth of Nations", ISBN:0879757051, buy it here ! ) would've taken the trouble to rise from his grave to watch this one.

Douglas was excellent and deserved his Oscar, and Sheen (both dad and son) were terrific. I'm not a great fan of Oliver Stone's other movies, but this is one movie I treasure as much as my MSFT stock certificate !

The quotes from the dialogue should be printed in bold and stuck up on the wall of every investment bank's office:

"It's all about bucks kid. The rest is conversation".

"See this building over here ... it was my first real estate deal ...I made over $900,000. At the time I thought it was all the money in the world - now it's a day's pay".

Surprised it didn't win the Oscar for best screenplay as well.

Rating:
Summary: Greed is good
Review: This is a great character study. This is a great movie. After reading the "bad" reviews, I can only agree with one; Daryl Hannah's acting is pretty poor. Olive Stone has always been criticized for his inability to handle a woman on the screen, and thi is further testament to that. But to say Michael Douglas was terrible? Come on, they dont give out Oscars for bad performances. And so what if this character seemed to be the basis for every character he would play. This was the first. And most great actors play a lot of similar roles. Dustin Hoffman - was there really a difference in rainman and the graduate? And Oliver Stone as the Ed Wood of the 90's? Come on. Carol Reed of the 90's maybe. Good thing that guy saw Tim Burrton's movie.

But dont take my word for it either. Watch it yourself, igt certainly deserves a gander.

Rating:
Summary: Pure Inspiration For Succeess - A True Classic!
Review: I have seen this movie over one hundred times and each time I watch it, it gets even better. This movie will inspire you to go after whatever it is that you want out of life - love, wealth, power, or whatever - with a vengeance! It's about being 'poor, smart, and hungry' and 'winning a few, losing a few, but you keep on fighting'. No 'Ivy League schmucks' wanted here! It's about starting out with nothing and fighting and scratching your way to the top - despite outside obstacles and the elitists trying to keep you out. Rugged American capitalism - work hard, work smart - and be richly and justly rewarded. Our free market is what has made our country #1 and the envy of the entire world. In America, anyone can succeed! I know it's only a movie, but it contains so many real world lessons. This movie is a true classic which captured an entire era - the 80's. Great lines, great scenes, this is my favorite movie of all time!

PLEASE E-mail [e-mail] and demand that they put this movie out on DVD immediately!