Wall Street (20th Anniversary Edition)

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Starring: Charlie Sheen
Rated: R (Restricted)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Oliver Stone
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 2007-09-18
Running Time: 125 minutes
Number of Items: 2
In this riveting, behind-the-scenes look at big business in the 1980's, an ambitious young broker (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 Street legend Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). But he soon discovers that the pursuit of overnight riches comes at a price that's too high to pay.

Reaganomics At The Beginning
Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" chronicles the rise of unbridled greed, of reckless gambling with the other people's money, of soulless financiers whose God is cash. Some of the details are dated now -- the opening shots of the World Trade Towers, the IBM dumb terminals everywhere, Motorola "brick" wireless phones, the dollar amounts thrown about as astronomical in 1985 -- but the story behind the details and the motivations of the characters are as good a lesson as you're going to find. As a matter of fact, in the extras it is revealed that the director and cast used Bear Stearns as the model for their portrayals. How ironic then that the "Wall Street" tagline, "Greed is good," should end up eulogizing the era of narcissistic excess that the movie portrays.

Blu-Ray Review-80's iconic flick metaphor for decade
The film is a cornerstone for the 80's decade, as it embodies the excessive greed that was typical of this time period. The film was watched on a 42" Panasonic Plasma and BD30K Blu-Ray player. The PQ was not excellent, especially in darker scenes-it contained significant grain and noise, but adequate to enjoy as a hi-def film-3.5/5. The AQ was not overwhelming, but sounds and music were correct for each seen, strong throughout-4/5. Overall quality of transfer for picture and sound 3.5/5.

The ambitious Bud Fox rises to the top under the guidance of a ruthless business man who cuts corners and cuts throats to get ahead. The materialism often documented in the 80's appears full throttle, and all characters in the film, except the token reminder of morality-Bud's Dad, are all infected with the greed. The film is an interesting portrayal of the time period, but also how a person's character can become compromise. The average person could fall prey to glitz and glamor of this "no limits" life style.

In Stone's typical stylistic manner, he executes the film and story arc of the rise and fall of Bud Fox in a well timed manner. In the end Gecko still prevails, despite of his tactics, but it is Bud who saves his father's company, albeit inadvertently being punished for the route the initially chose.

I was in my teens in the 80's, and the decade holds a certain fascination for me. The film is one of my favorites of the era, and is definitely worth seeing. It is not crushed by the same over the top humor and kitch that is present in some of the more light-hearted 80's films, but instead is a more conscious-grabbing serious character examination of the era, and the effect on character that limitless "aquisition" of materialism can cause.

The film is still relevant today, as it seems this greed is still present in our society, and has become an accepted norm and side effect of our capitalistic society. Performances are solid throughout and further/introduce careers of interesting actors, including James Spader.

Life Mirrors Art
Writer-director Oliver Stone aptly depicts the culture of corporate greed and those who lead that rat pack in an exploration of the morality of placing profits over people.

Michael Douglas does a superb job in portraying corporate raider Gordon Gecko, a 1980s-era, larger-than-life figure who will stop at nothing to quench his thirst professionally and personally. Charlie Sheen is the young Wall Street broker who beats the odds to become a protege of this iconic figure, but becomes entwined in a web trust, truth and doing the right thing with his blue-collar father, played by Martin Sheen.

The white-collar party seems to have no end, as those willing to play the game by day will be rewarded with riches that millions can only dream about. Life mirrors art as the price of pop culture glory is played off the harsh ramifications to the faceless living paycheck-to-paycheck on Main Street.

It is - sadly - a timeless theme when Wall Street becomes a bunker for the greedy few and not an avenue for the many.

Fantastic storyline and acting by Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen
I'm not going to repeat all the accolades already given this movie. But one glaring miscast as having also been mentioned before - Daryl Hannah as Darien Taylor, was absolutely horrible in this film. I agree that Sean Young (Kate Gekko) should have switched parts with Hannah.

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko and Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox were excellent. The very touching scene between Bud and his dad Carl (Martin Sheen) in the hospital was one of the more memorable in this great movie.

Wall Street's reptile ethics
"...ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind."

Time to dust off an old classic! Well not so old. After all, the decade that WALL STREET famously and entertainingly captured with it's Reagan-era credo that "greed is good" is still so very much with us in so many ways. And of coarse it is because that is the American way.

This is one of Oliver Stone's best. Maybe his best. Results are so very mixed with him. As has been said countless times Michael Douglas is superb as one of cinema's all time great villains.