The Wolf of Wall Street - thoughts

The Wolf of Wall Street

Directed by: Martin Scorsese 

Rated R 

Plot: 

Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort. From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title "The Wolf of Wall Street." 

I'm a huge fan of Leo's. HUGE. I love Jonah Hill. I mean, here's the guy who will never let go until he's frozen to death on a wooden headboard and the man who played in the mega hit film Moneyball! (PS diehard Oakland A's fan over here.) Add to this a real life rag to riches drama, littered with drug use and all played out to the direction of Scorsese and I'm sure to love this! Right?! Right? Right......

Nope. Sadly, I did NOT love this film even a tiny bit. Actually, I didn't get it. At all. 

Look at these faces! Bromance usually always wins me over. But nothing happened that was meaningful enough to make feel even a tad bit invested in these characters, at all. I mean come on, am I crazy or something? (Don't answer that.) 

Best pool party ever! *grabs floaty* Or so the still shot seems. Leo playing MC and free food! But looks can be deceiving. No, it was just excessive drugs, group sex and overall degenerate mayhem party. Seems fun, but it's the same scene repeated over and over. 

Dirty stolen money party! Woo-hoo! Right? Getting tapped up with loads of cash. Dream come true! *head desk* No. This scene was lame, like the rest of the film. 

Oh good. More dirty money at a drug/sex party with gross motorcycle-stash men! Yay! *thumbs down*

Guess what day it is????? Yea. It's hump day. But EVERYDAY is hump day around this office. Literally. It all became too damn much. Beyond fun or funny and just sad/gross. And ewww the STD's going around this office *gag*

Ok, I lied. Leo breakdancing was the one scene that was actually entertaining. So, I did like about 1 whole minute of this film. 

For me, I didn't bloody get it. But with 5 Oscar nominations this year, there must be something to this film. I mean why else would it get so many acknowledgments? 

Who knows and frankly I don't care. 

I get this is a harsh review/thoughts and for that I do feel bad being so blunt. A lot of time, hard work and money are put into films. I understand this. I'm not saying I wont still be a fan of any of the people involved in this movie, I'm just saying this one sucked. 

Reviews are subjective. So I am VERY interested to hear what everyone else thought! :) 

KD 

Sheep Movie Review: Django Unchained

Django Unchained, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, stars Jamie Fox, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Johnson. If you like a good punch to the gut, repeatedly, and you know and love Tarantino films then this is one to see! 

Plot: 

Set in the South two years before the Civil War, Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago. Django and Schultz's search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of "Candyland," an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), Candie's trusted house slave.

I don't think to date I've walked out of a film feeling sick to my stomach yet oddly fulfilled at the same time. It was such a mix of emotions rocketing thru my veins that I truly was left shell shocked, and might still be. The subject matter that is the film's heart, slavery, was one that I think everyone should know and see. This is a dark and ugly past, but a past nonetheless and if we're to learn from our past to prevent the same mistakes, then so be it. Message received loud and clear! 

Django Unchained has a spaghetti western feel at times, with comedy thrown in to lighten the serious nature of events. Set two years before the Civil War we meet a plethora of southern money hungry characters. Leading the way is Don Johnson and Leo DiCaprio, both of whom you love to hate. Some outrageous scenes of what looked to be the start of the KKK makes for what would have been a dramatic scene of hooded men, but soon turns to being full of belly laughs. But aside from the comedy there's deep seeded darkness in a lot of these men. I can't think of one film where Leo has played such an awful slimy bad guy and really I have no desire to see it again. He not only pulls it off and sells the role with gusto, but the man makes it 100% believable. Cute dimples aside, he's creepy and gross and I'm not wanting to have any more Titanic dreams about him at the moment! 

On the flip side, we have Christoph who's playing the good guy! It's like the cosmic acting tables are reversed with this movie and everyone who's usually a good guy actor is a bad guy. I loathed it and loved it all at the same time. My world was thrown upside down and shaken to bits while I was stuck inside! Gah! I will admit, however, it was not only refreshing to see him as a good dude but he plays it almost better than his evil side. His evil counterpart is pretty awesome though so that's saying something! 

With plot complexity layered on top of blood, guts, and explosions the true winner here has to be Jamie Fox. What a role for this man to play and sell with every fiber of his being! This is a comedian turned serious actor and the subdued nature of his character was not only spot on but you could see, in his eyes, that this film meant something to him. And I just refuse to believe that the million dollar paycheck was all he was looking for, he slayed my heart with utter venerable passion. 

I was emotionally blown away by it all, in equal measure. The film is over the top for sure but that's Tarantino style and it suits him well. If you've got a stomach made of steel and want to see a movie that will rattle your cage then get out there and see this film! 

Getting 4 and 1/2 'springy thingy tooth' Sheep 

KD 

Inception, Holy Crap this movie was AMAZING!

Inception directed by Christopher Nolan opened to the public this weekend and Oh. My. God. I don't know if I can do this movie justice with my review, but for all of you, I will try.

Plot:

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

Inception also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom-hot as can be-Hardy, Ken Watanabe and drum roll please.....the one and only Tom Berenger! "Take your man and get out of here or I'll shot you in the hand." Classic.

I didn't really know what to expect going into this movie, yeah sure dreams and all that whoo haa. But the layers and layers that are woven, the dynamic of the story and actors, heartbreaking drama, the nail bitting edge of my seat action and unbelievable sound and visual effects? Yeah um no, did NOT see all that coming.

Musical score was amazing, Hans Zimmer a master at what he does. And yes he is the same guy who did Dark Knight. Fact checker that I am. ;) Music brought the views right where they needed to be throughout the film. Dark and twisted then sad and longing. LOVED IT!

***Waring: If you did not get the Matrix, you wont get this film. Period.

Its not a fluff summer popcorn movie, its the read deal and will make you think. No vegging allowed people! lol

Dont miss this film, I recommend IMAX for this one or if you live in the Campbell area they have a theater that just installed motion seats. I have yet to check it out for myself but trust that its on the to do list.

KD