“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” —Gordon Gekko
Today’s quick review: Wall Street. Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stock broker, would do anything to be like Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a Wall Street veteran with all the prestige and luxury that money can buy. He finally manages to impress Gekko with an inside tip and earns the chance to become his protege. But Gekko’s recipe for financial success comes with a steep price, forcing Bud to choose between his ambition and his principles.
Wall Street is a drama about the financial landscape of the 1980s and the corrupting influence of money. Charlie Sheen stars as Bud Fox, a young broker who gets swept up in the frenzy of the stock market. Insider trading, unethical dealings, and over-the-top luxury become Bud’s stock-in-trade as he follows in the footsteps of his unscrupulous mentor. Wall Street has the quality of acting, writing, and direction it needs to make good on its premise.
Wall Street is a simple movie at heart, centering on the relationship between Bud and Gordon. Bud is an eager student at first, desperate for any edge that will set him apart from the pack. The lure of Gordon’s lifestyle pulls Bud down a path of material success and moral bankruptcy. But unlike Gordon, Bud still has scruples, embodied by the advice of his father (Martin Sheen). The crux of the movie is Bud’s choice between these two competing influences.
Wall Street fleshes out this central conflict quite nicely. Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas are very believable in their roles. The story shows the changes in Bud’s character without going overboard. The movie also offers an effective glimpse into the glamorous, cutthroat world at the highest echelon of the stock market. Still, the plot ends up being less climactic than it could have been, and modern audiences may find its lurid side relatively tame.
Wall Street is a solid pick in general and a great one for anyone interested in its subject matter. Not everyone will get the full value of the points it tries to make, but the combination of strong fundamentals and clean execution of its concept make it worth checking out. Those looking for something more offbeat may want to try one of the other movies that play in the same space.
For a more comedic take on the excesses of Wall Street, try The Wolf of Wall Street. For a more intimate drama about the pressure to sell, try Glengarry Glen Ross. For a more violent satire of status-seeking among the young and wealthy, try American Psycho. For a horror-tinged drama about wealth and temptation, try The Devil’s Advocate. For a black comedy about a successful but insufferable boss and his protege, try Swimming with Sharks.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for clean execution of an interesting premise.