This is an excellent drama directed by Oliver Stone recurring around the New York Stock Exchange during the 80's and how stock brokers were able to achieve huge wealth through the buying and selling of options and shares. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young and ambitious broker who has his eye on working for Wall Street giant, Gorden Gecko (Oscar Winning Michael Douglas) but must first prove himself worthy in this cut throat business. In order to gain Gecko's interest and his foot in the door, Fox uses information he has on his own father's (Martin Sheen) airline to gain Geckos interest regarding a takeover. It follows Fox's rise and subsequent manipulation and corruption by Gecko. Fox struggles to live with himself, as he realises his wealth is at the expense of other peoples jobs and lives.
This is enjoyable for the great performance by Douglas as a ruthless, charming and manipulative wall street tycoon who believes that "greed is good" and seeing the luxurious life he leads which includes fine art, sex, restaurants, private airtravel, sea views, fancy apartments etc. The film convinces in making it easy to see why such pursuits were desirable to successful people during the 80's and the film has not dated badly either. The story is also well written with excellent dialogue and a documentary feel which is vital for its impact. The sub-plot involving Terrence Stamp's rival tycoon character is the only slight weak element as his character nor rivalry with Gecko is properly developed and explained. However it is necessary to carry the film to its conclusion.
Incidentally and ironically, the film was made prior to when the bottom fell out of the market on the New York Stock Exchange.
The DVD comes with a very good 45min "The Making of" , Audio Commentary by Oliver Stone and Multiple Language Subtitles.
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InWall StreetMichael Douglas perfectly embodies the Reagan-era credo that "greed is good" ... more
and won an Oscar for his efforts. As a Donald Trump-like Wall Street raider aptly named Gordon Gecko (for his reptilian ability to attack corporate targets and sw...
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InWall StreetMichael Douglas perfectly embodies the Reagan-era credo that "greed is good" ... more
and won an Oscar for his efforts. As a Donald Trump-like Wall Street raider aptly named Gordon Gecko (for his reptilian ability to attack corporate targets and sw...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
From the director of 'Platoon' Oliver Stone comes a new battle set in the greatest ... more
jungle of them all Wall Street: a place where honour is traded for power and peace of mind for a piece of the action. Against this background two men form a dangero...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
In this riveting, behind-the-scenes look at big business in the 1980s, an ambitious ... more
stockbroker (Charlie Sheen) is lured into the illegal, lucrative world of corporate espionage when he is seduced by the power, status and financial wizardry of Wall Str...
Advantages: Mostly well-acted, manages to depict protagonist's moral struggle well. Disadvantages: It gets dull sometimes, as the trading scenes and conversations drag on.
babycougar 29.07.2009 ·
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Review of Wall Street (DVD)
Advantages: some good one-liners, ongoing entertainment, definitely "re-watchable" Disadvantages: lack of good bonus features, price since it was only released a few days ago
![Wall Street [1988] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78530089.jpg "Wall Street [1988] [DVD]")
Apr 24th, 2009
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