Review of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) by Danny R — 30 Dec 2011

Gordon Gekko is back! Michael Douglas brilliantly reprises his Oscar winning and career defining role as the legendary Wall Street titan and corporate raider. Gekko walks out of federal prison in 2001 after serving years for the insider-trading scandal of the first film, he finds himself on the outside looking in on a world he once commanded, and he wants revenge on a former associate who help put in prison, the new Wall Street kingpin Bretton James, played by Josh Brolin in a marvelously nefarious performance.

Gekko is also hoping to repair the broken relationship with his daughter Winnie, beautifully played by Carey Mulligan who can't forgive him because of her brother's drug-fueled death. Gekko forgers an alliance with her fiance, Jacob played by Shia LaBeouf who delivers a mature solid performance, Jacob comes to view Gekko as a father figure he learns the hard way that Gekko is still a master manipulator who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and make it to the top again.

First-rate supporting performances by Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Vanessa Ferito and 94-year-old Eli Wallach who is sensational as a sinister Wall Street patriarch. But this is Douglas's movie all the way and he is at his charismatic best here with an added dose of mischievous humor.

Well-crafted with intelligent direction by Oliver Stone and extraordinary cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. A eminently watchable and captivating film that guarantee's cinematic satisfaction. Highly Recommended.