Review of Wall Street (1987) by Brian R — 22 Apr 2010

Self-discovery odyssey in the abstract, modern Wall Street jungle. For starters, I loved the character foils: Gekko-Wildman for corporate responsibility, Gekko-Fox, Sr. as mentors, the 2 oldies who are about to retire at the Fox's old firm. I particularly liked the Gekko-Wildman comparison: Gekko constantly preaches digging deep into the system to find pieces of untapped information to make quick sales. Wildman seems to have the same shady ways of grabbing information, but to a net positive effect for the employees. He is the ideal corporate raider: a long-term investor who steers the firms he captures.

I liked the part where Darien Taylor essentially says "I really did like you... but Gekko pays me." How about Buddy's transformation from the "cheesy sales talk" Gekko tells him to drop, and his greater command and fashion sensibilities? I think that he wasn't nearly as natural in it as Gekko was- was this on purpose?

Also liked the scene where Fox and Gekko sit in the limo, and looks down on "the Wall Street stiffs making $400k a year flying first class". It's about being "liquid" and being a "player"- the ability own the jet that Gekko's about.