Darren Levine
Veteran
but.... 3 HOURS.....
did it honestly keep moving and not feel like a lifetime?
did it honestly keep moving and not feel like a lifetime?
Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street
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Batutta
Major Contributor
No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough. The film moves like a rocket and did not feel like a lifetime, but there are several scenes that felt like they went on longer than they should have. Not because of boredom but because the scenes ended up feeling improvised, and not in a good way. Just actors spinning their wheels trying to keep something going. The movie is long and excessive but that's the whole point really. Excess. The one word that sums up everything about this story. A short, zippy 90 minute movie would not have done the job.
Darren Levine
Veteran
but you're taking it to the opposite end of the spectrum, i didn't say it should be 90 minutes, of course cutting it in HALF would be insensible but are you saying it couldn't have done with 120 minutes? 140 minutes? heck, 160 minutes?
Batutta
Major Contributor
They could have could it down, but the point of it all is that it's too much. It should feel like too much. If it feels the right length then its the wrong length. Also, this isn't a plot heavy movie so it's not so clear cut as to what scenes can go and what can stay for the effect of the movie to work.
jghenderson
Well-known member
This is a weird film for me to evaluate. On the one hand, it's very funny at times, and despite it's 3 hour running time never felt boring for a second (as opposed to American Hustle, which at 2h20 felt 20 minutes too long to me). The acting was solid, especially DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. The cinematography was excellent.
On the other hand, the film just felt like a whole lot of excess and nothing much more to anchor it. You never care about DiCaprio's character in the beginning, therefore his fall into depravity is not sad. In fact I just didn't care about any of the characters at all. Not a single character in here was lovable, as a result you have nobody to anchor yourself to and root for. I've started to realize this is a major problem I have with Scorcese in general, he just doesn't make movies about likeable people. The only film of his i've really been able to get past this issue and love is Raging Bull, but it really keeps me from loving any of his other movies (except Hugo which I really liked). I don't like to admit this, because I admire Scorcese very much for what he's done for the film world, and I recognize his genius at film technique....but I think I just have to admit I don't connect to his films.
Ultimately i'd say it's worth seeing, but I took absolutely nothing away from it. I will say it definitely seemed like they had a blast making it, i've never seen DiCaprio so loose before.
On the other hand, the film just felt like a whole lot of excess and nothing much more to anchor it. You never care about DiCaprio's character in the beginning, therefore his fall into depravity is not sad. In fact I just didn't care about any of the characters at all. Not a single character in here was lovable, as a result you have nobody to anchor yourself to and root for. I've started to realize this is a major problem I have with Scorcese in general, he just doesn't make movies about likeable people. The only film of his i've really been able to get past this issue and love is Raging Bull, but it really keeps me from loving any of his other movies (except Hugo which I really liked). I don't like to admit this, because I admire Scorcese very much for what he's done for the film world, and I recognize his genius at film technique....but I think I just have to admit I don't connect to his films.
Ultimately i'd say it's worth seeing, but I took absolutely nothing away from it. I will say it definitely seemed like they had a blast making it, i've never seen DiCaprio so loose before.
Eric Boellner
Well-known member
If nothing else, there's no other movie being talked about this much. No other film about white collar crime has had people discussing its excess like this since probably Stone's original Wall Street. Comparisons to Scarface are apt. Certainly DiCaprio's best work since The Aviator. The fact he can maintain that level of energy for so long is a feat in itself.
KyleProhaska
Veteran
I read the script in one sitting and it moved very quickly. I can see the 3 hours flying by honestly…there's a ton of story in there and it's so packed with great content that I don't mind the length at all.
Jimmy Pierce
Well-known member
Speaking of caring about characters, would you want to care about someone like Jordan Belfort (the character, since we can sort of separate the factual man from the fictional one)? Someone who got away with so many bizarre illegal situations, practically avoiding serious private, state or federal prosecution, and trying to hide a clear path he's made. I'm wondering how the FBI didn't catch on earlier, or why in cinematic terms, they didn't take action sooner in the film. Especially since we saw him and his staff get away with so many things before the agent is established.
Then he walks off without going to federal prison for the rest of his life, and uses his knowledge to lecture people on how to become a millionaire so they can potentially become the next irresponsible Jordan Belfort.
I did find it to be more style than substance, but just enough substance to keep the viewer engaged to the story.
Then he walks off without going to federal prison for the rest of his life, and uses his knowledge to lecture people on how to become a millionaire so they can potentially become the next irresponsible Jordan Belfort.
I did find it to be more style than substance, but just enough substance to keep the viewer engaged to the story.
KyleProhaska
Veteran
Humor mixed with crazy situations no matter how bizarre along with fascination with it being a true story makes it plenty enough for me. If I find someone interesting, they can be the most despicable person on the planet and I can watch a film about them.
Rolf Silber
Veteran
Plenty of movies about unbecoming real life figures .... take "Il Divo" about Andreotti for instance .... absurd, surreal yet true in much ways ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw-qm-liCPA
About the reality of "Wolf", this.....
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat...elfort_and_other_real_people_in_dicaprio.html
Comes out in my country in a week or so. Looking forward to this one.
Scott F
Pug Life
+1 (or is that +2 ?)
tmnt
King of Australia
1. Margot Robbie... wow.
2. DeCaprio was great and in one particular scene involving a white Lamborghini he was hilarious. Really he needs to do a Jim Carrieish comedy now!
3. Jonah hill was amazing
As for the actual movie it had quiet a few laughs and memorable scenes but it tried to stay high too long and for me that lead to quiet a few unintended lulls.
Almost 3/5
2. DeCaprio was great and in one particular scene involving a white Lamborghini he was hilarious. Really he needs to do a Jim Carrieish comedy now!
3. Jonah hill was amazing
As for the actual movie it had quiet a few laughs and memorable scenes but it tried to stay high too long and for me that lead to quiet a few unintended lulls.
Almost 3/5
JackCarter
Well-known member
let me just say, I went in blind, all I knew was Scorsese and DiCaprio, nothing else, and all I can say is.... Well it's the funniest film I've ever seen, seriously, I couldn't stop laughing all the way through. The scene with the stewardesses, the smoking crack scene, the Venice scene, the Bush scene, the Lude scene, etc etc. Perhaps it's just my sense of humour. I bet they had so much fun filming this.
It's good to see Scorsese still has it, does it look like it's directed by a 71 year old? I rated it a 9/10 on IMDB, perhaps I should change it to a 10.
I actually thought it was shot on film at first, then I thought it looked a little like the F3 with grain added, on IMDB it says
Arri Alexa Plus, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Arri Alexa Studio, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Arricam LT, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Canon EOS C500
The message from The Wolf of wall Street for me was, to have more fun in life, which I intend to do, hahah.
As for Scorsese / DiCaprio films, my favourite is Shutter Island, which I gave 10/10. The dream sequence is one of the most beautiful and haunting scenes I've ever seen, reminds me so much of Hitchcock.
It's good to see Scorsese still has it, does it look like it's directed by a 71 year old? I rated it a 9/10 on IMDB, perhaps I should change it to a 10.
I actually thought it was shot on film at first, then I thought it looked a little like the F3 with grain added, on IMDB it says
Arri Alexa Plus, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Arri Alexa Studio, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Arricam LT, Hawk V-Lite, V-Plus, V-Series, Zeiss Master Prime and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
Canon EOS C500
The message from The Wolf of wall Street for me was, to have more fun in life, which I intend to do, hahah.
As for Scorsese / DiCaprio films, my favourite is Shutter Island, which I gave 10/10. The dream sequence is one of the most beautiful and haunting scenes I've ever seen, reminds me so much of Hitchcock.
Rolf Silber
Veteran
Out in my country, No.1 box office hit for two weekends, just saw it. Funny, witty, hillarious, over the top ..... a tiny bit too long, sorry .... but what a joy to watch the actors having fun while the audience can share that and overall - like Jack Carter wrote above - it feels like a movie of a director thirty years younger. Three thumbs up.
tmnt
King of Australia
I really didn't realise the runtime on this thing and after a bit of time to think about it, revising my score to 3.75/5.
And I think Jonah Hill had a much bigger case to make for the supporting Oscar than the eventual winner, who I thought was aware of the camera in every scene of Cap Phillips.
And I think Jonah Hill had a much bigger case to make for the supporting Oscar than the eventual winner, who I thought was aware of the camera in every scene of Cap Phillips.