Throughout his illustrious career, Martin Scorsese has formed lasting partnerships with several actors, with Robert De Niro standing out as one of his most prominent collaborators. However, in recent years, Leonardo DiCaprio has emerged as another key figure in Scorsese’s repertoire. Their initial collaboration on Gangs of New York in 2002 marked the beginning of a productive relationship, which has resulted in several standout films that have received critical acclaim.
Their partnership has produced notable works such as The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006), the latter of which earned Scorsese the Academy Award for Best Picture. Following these successes, they reunited for Shutter Island in 2010 and the highly praised Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023. Together, they have navigated various genres, including a darkly comedic exploration of Wall Street banking in the 2013 docudrama, The Wolf of Wall Street.
The Wolf of Wall Street: A Film with Notable Realism
Expert Critique of the Film
Despite some criticisms, former Wall Street trader Jared Dillian attributes a notable degree of realism to The Wolf of Wall Street. Released three years after Shutter Island, this film tells the true story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker whose rapid ascent in the finance world is marred by illicit activities. The film captivated audiences, achieving box office success and garnering praise for DiCaprio’s performance, particularly in the depiction of extravagant party scenes.
In a recent video featured on Insider, Dillian assesses various party sequences in the film, ultimately rating them highly for their authenticity. He contextualizes the film’s portrayal of Wall Street’s party culture while highlighting the drastic changes that occurred post-2008 financial crisis, noting that the grand parties depicted were significantly toned down in reality. As the events of the film unfold during the 1980s and 1990s, its portrayal is not entirely off base. Dillian’s insights illustrate the discrepancies between cinematic representation and actual industry practices.
There’s a lot of people who watch The Wolf of Wall Street and they think that’s what Wall Street is when it’s really the wolf of strip malls in Long Island. Jordan Belford had a firm called Stratton Oakmont which was a penny stock brokerage. There was fraud and there were illegal sales tactics and he did go to jail. It is not Wall Street. It is not institutional finance.
The funny part is that Christmas parties for the major Wall Street firms were common up until the financial crisis. When I was at Lehman, we had a Christmas party at the Hilton on 6th Avenue. There were multiple DJs, multiple dance floors, and then after the financial crisis, the Christmas parties went away, partly for financial reasons but also for optics. It was considered a little untoward for a Wall Street bank to have a big, ostentatious Christmas party.
But you didn’t have women getting their heads shaved. You didn’t have a marching band. You didn’t have strippers. That didn’t happen.
I actually think for a penny stock brokerage in the 1980s, I would give it a high rating for realism. I would say about a seven and a half [out of 10].Doesn’t mean that I like it. I don’t like it. But for what it is, I think it’s somewhat realistic.
Understanding The Wolf of Wall Street’s Accuracy
Critical and Commercial Achievement of the Film
The impressive accuracy rating of The Wolf of Wall Street complements its strong performance across other metrics. The film boasts a solid 79% critics’ score and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. With a production budget estimated at $100 million, it grossed an astounding $407 million globally, solidifying its status as a box office triumph.
Although opinions may vary regarding whether this 2013 film represents the pinnacle of Scorsese and DiCaprio’s collaborations, its success is undeniable. After a decade-long wait for their next joint project following The Wolf of Wall Street, fans eagerly anticipate more, especially since the duo is set to collaborate again in an adaptation of The Devil in the White City.
Source: Insider
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