Review of Wall Street (1987) by Filipeneto — 14 Dec 2019

An essay on greed.

This is a movie that revolves entirely around greed, and the harm it brings when greed for money becomes a person's reason for living. Directed well by Oliver Stone, the film shows the rise and fall of Bud, a New York Stockbroker who, driven by greed, associates with Gordon Gekko, an amoral finance shark. Profits happen, and Bud's life takes a turn, but at some point he realizes that he is somehow living on the edge of his own convictions of right and wrong, and when it threatens his own father's job, Bud has to decide which side of morality he is on.

The movie is loaded with moral messages about money, speculation and greed, which is good. Stone undoubtedly wanted to warn of the dangers of savage capitalism and lack of business ethics. Got. The movie makes anyone think twice before investing in the stock market.

The cast of the film is strong, full of big names and each actor does a great job, in particular thanks to the good material each one received. In fact, the characters were very well made and developed intelligently. Charlie Sheen shone like Bud Fox, and has in this movie one of the most interesting roles of his career. Michael Douglas was also magnificent in a villain role where he accentuated the character's amorality and gave the film a remarkable strength and impact. He, too, got one of the most remarkable performances of his professional life, so much so that he earned him the Oscar for Best Actor that year. Martin Sheen also made a good appearance and the most emotional parts of the film are the work of the good professional collaboration between him and Charlie, who is his son in real life and also in this film. Worst of all was Daryl Hannah, in the uninspired and insipid performance of a pretty, materialistic girl.

Overall, this movie is worth it for the good story it tells and the excellent performances of the actors. Morally grounded, it has aged well and continues to look current even twenty years after it was launched. And even if we hate Gekko's biased amoral philosophy (translated in his famous speech "Greed is Good"), we cannot deny the character's magnetism, charm and attractiveness. The evil is seductive, and Michael Douglas got it very well.