The Wolf of Wall Street Essay PDF

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Final Essay for the Semester...

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The Wolf On Walstreet is a film based not entirely on the real life of Jordan Belfort. Jordan is a very personable person who is great at sales but has very troubling issues in his personal life. The film itself could be considered a Narative Movie; as actor Leanardo Dicaprio uses his voice during the opening of the film and at key moments during the story indicative of other narrative films. There are multiple Montage Master Shots; throughout the film depicting Jordan Belfort and other charecters in scenarious that bolster the very nature of the scene at hand. The effort and thought behind the use of a narrative movie coupled with montage master shots displays to the audience deep relatable charecters that might surprise you at every turn. As and audience member I felt only privy to the inner workings of Mr.Belfort, when I was invited by director Martin Scorsese. Adding to the films authenticity is the Costume design. As Jordan Belfort, experiences the ups and downs of his life we can see this dilemma unfold in not only his wardrobe but the entire cast ansombles. The choice of clothing used in the film leads to the interpretation that it really is the man who makes the clothes. We can see in the beginning of the film a very conservative style used by Jordan, and his constituents. As the film continues and Jordan, becomes more successful we see a more boisterous display of outfits worn by him and the rest of the charecters. Enhancing and already explicit representation of Jordan Belfort, is the Décor. The décor encapsulates not only the charecters involved but a quality perspective of what would be expected from such a scene. In the beginning of the film the décor of the rooms and furniture represent the humble and earnest nature of the main character and his family life. Over time the story its cast of charecters and the nature of the settings become more involved the décor can be viewed to match exactly that. An example of the décor being representative of the story line and its charecters can be seen towards the end of the film where the inner turmoil of the main character leads to Jordans;

haphazard destruction of a luxury automobile. The main character and his cast also ascend to luxury during the film although their wealth is rooted in thievery and the emotional turmoil can be seen on and sround the cast thanks to the cast of the film responsible for costume and décor. The film is based on a main character and the Film Editing; represents the choices and lifestyle of Jordan Belfort, himself. The film editing strives to enhance the experience of Jordan, giving the audience a chance to connect with the man and reflect on his experiences and choices. The films editing also draws the audience in and at different points emphasizes the humanistic aspect of the decisions Jordan made throught the film. The audience already engaged through this experience is left guessing as what is to come through the clever use of many plot twist throughput the film aimed at enhancing story plots and manipulating charecters in a very authentic way. Watching the film I couldn’t help but become involved in the plot and detailed charecters. Scene by scene the film began to fill in the details of the charecters lives and exposed them in ways the audience could connect to. This effort by the filmmakers to connect the audience with the experience of the charecters humanizes the experience of watching film and leads the viewer to feel as if they were a fly on the wall of someone elses life. In this case the experience of Jordan Belfort, and his rags to riches story left me as an audience member thinking about what is really important in life. For all the extravagant things collected by Mr.Belfort, it seems the problems he had could be easily overcome by his former unsuccesfull self. Belfort as it seems so desperate for the things he didn’t have as a younger man he forgot to value the things that were there well before his success. He got tired of selling of stocks and started selling his soul one call at a time to the highest bidder.

Over time Jordan loses all that he started working for and transforms himself into a man desperate to use his wealth to attain a moment of satisfaction. Eventually all the travesties Jordan has caused on his way to success become overwhelming. His work life fails, his family is gone, his friends have abadon him in fear of their own safety, and all the wealth he has spent his time accumulating is at risk. The eminemt doom experienced from this trauma turns Mr.Belfort, The Wolf On Wallstreet, into a wealthy drunkard and junkie giving it away as fast as possible. These stories are a plenty in America. They seem just more sought after when it involves lots of money and crime. For the audience this tale serves as a warning to others about the carnage that can ensue when a man chooses wealth over others wellbeing. Stories such as these that have included wallstreet can be seen in the news with the Bernie Madoff case, and in tv shows like American Greed. This film was uniqe in the details it gave about the lifestyle “ wall street types” have. The vantage point is truly of a willing entrapunuer who makes his own way into the big game. A man who becomes a wolf. It is a well titled film as over time the savagery embraced by the wolf named Jordan Belfort, destroys the very notion of human being within him. Much the same can be said about the other charecters involved in the story. Matthew Mcaughnehy begins this path to savegry by exposing his wolfliness to Jordan Belfort his first day at a big firm. At lunch the two exchange words while Matthew’s character Matt Hanna breaks all the rules and felony laws defined by the state of New York in the first thiry minutes interacting with Mr.Belfort. Jordan is put off by this exchange and eventually doesn’t achieve what he set out for due to the sudden crash of the stock market. When he does find work it is not the type of work he longs to do or pays well. Jordan is a determined salesman and finds a way to manipulate his clientel and the resources available to him to make a lot of money. This

sudden influx of wealth leaves him at a disadvantage to those who acquired it over time and the lessons it teaches. The determined salesman eventually becomes corrupted by the idea of acquiring more wealth, he deems his deeds noble though his patrons suffer by his ponzi scheme and deceit. The poor values of the charecters only heighten with the immense wealth they acquire over time wealth becomes secondary to power. The power struggle becomes so entwined within the culture of the film and the charecters within it the story cannot help but struggle to keep up with the need for more. Eventuallly the money runs out and the charecters are forced to pay penalties for their deceit concerning financing and moral fortitude. When faced with this punishment the charecters cant help but lash out at eacho ther as none has dealt with loss for so long. This self destructive process is on display for all of the film and for all to watch Jordan experience. In the end he is just another criminal, caught and jailed. His money cannot buy his way out of service in debt of society. Mr.Belfort the “wolf”, has expressed how this service to society and the debt he payed changed him. Though the critic I am wonders if this is not just an older wolf version of him howling at the moon one more time. Never would a wolf die willingly especially not one as determined and skilled as Mr.Belfort. Could we not view his debt to society as a metaphor for a wolf caught in a trap cutting short ots lifespan by bitting off its foot to hobble away and live just a few more hurs. This movie server as anly a memoir to a wolf of a man who probably still had many troubles and hopes to only remember howling at the moon. Though it was quite a howl and as can be seen with the success of the movie and story there are many that may have never howled. To those who may have never embraced their inner wolf this movie may serve as an outlet to what could have been, and lead to a long distraction of fantasy for many viewers needing the

experience. Also it involves money and crime openly shows objectification of women and fails to show the true penalty that comes from thieving from the humanistic perspective of the world. This is the wolf on display and the vindication lies in the popularity of the film....