Wall St

Plot

In 1985, Bud Fox, a junior stockbroker is desperate to work for his idol, the legendary Wall St corporate raider Gordon Gekko. On their first meeting, Fox gives Gekko “insider information” that Gekko takes, to buy stocks and the payoff gives him a mammoth profits. Gekko then hires Fox to continue this streak to continue to make profits.

Cast/Characters

Michael Douglas, plays Gordon Gekko, winning an Academy Award for his portrayal.

Charlie Sheen plays Bud Fox, his father Martin Sheen playing Bud’s father Carl.

Other cast include John C McGinley as Marvin (Bud’s friend and co worker), Daryl Hannah as Darien, Gordon’s ex, who becomes Bud’s girlfriend, Terence Stamp as Sir Larry Wildman, another corporate raider and Gordon’s rival.

Breakdown

Directed by Oliver Stone, an homage to his father who worked in this industry. The film depicts heavily stock brokerage, with similar themes and stylistics as Wolf of Wall St, and Trading Places.

This is unfortunately a movie that exists in both “an era” and “a location” – both that are foreign to me. The era, is of course the mid 1980s – where stock trading was chaotic and loud. It is also very American (particularly New York) as the film is set here (and in the now departed World Trade Center Buildings).

Gordon Gekko was a non conventional “lead character”, in that he is never really seen to be an overtly good person. But despite the star power of Douglas (and that Douglas got the nomination and win for ‘Lead” at the Oscars), he is essentially the secondary character to Sheen’s Fox. His speech at the Teldar Papers (Greed is Good), is still pretty impressive.

Not enough credit goes to Sheen, who had already cemented a name for himself in films like Lucas and Platoon. He’s actually very good in his dramatic performances, especially early in his career.

I believe it would help going into this film with some knowledge of how shares work (the buying and selling) – even though the high chaos stock floors that are depicted are not really in existence any more.

The pair of Gekko and Fox, for lack of a better words (see what I did there) friendship, is tumultuous throughout. from their first meeting (with Fox giving Gekko information about the airline his father works at), to the culmination where Gekko’s promise to help fix the business is broken by the revelation he is going to sell it. This leads Fox to give up his own freedom to bring Gekko down (that is of course until the sequel 23 years later).

Overall

An enjoyable dramatic ‘thriller’ from the 1980s, with solid cast. Had it been made today, I don’t believe it would have cemented the historical legacy that it holds today, nor would it be in competition for such high prizes like winning the Oscars it did.

This film is another one that lives in the era it was made, and is not relevant for ‘today’s’ audience.

3.5/5