The Wolf of Wall Street
age 18+
Intoxicating rise-and-fall story is full of sex and drugs.
- Review Date: December 25, 2013
- Rated: R
- Genre: Drama
- Release Year: 2013
- Running Time: 180 minutes
The Wolf of Wall Street gallery
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the true story of a financial broker who bent the rules, became enormously wealthy, and was not caught for years. He lives a life of debauchery and excess, cheating on his wife, remarrying, and cheating on his new wife with an endless array of prostitutes. Many characters are shown having graphic sex of all types. The main character uses every kind of drug under the sun, but especially prefers Quaaludes; the movie spends extra time on the effects of this drug. A secondary character is also a heavy drug user. Language is very strong and constant, with "f--k" uttered nearly constantly, as well as almost every other vulgar word in the book. As for violence, there's mostly enraged shouting, but there's a bloody face-bashing scene, some domestic violence where a wife gets punched a couple of times, and a quick shot of a (very tangential) bloody suicide. The legendary Martin Scorsese's the director, and most movie buffs will want to see this, but as with GoodFellas and Casino, this one's not recommended for kids of any age.
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What's the story?
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) starts his thrilling new job as a Wall Street broker on Monday, Oct. 19, 1987, when one of the biggest market crashes in history occurred. After that he's forced to take a job dealing in "penny stocks," trading semi-worthless stocks, but for 50 percent commissions. Teaming up with a neighbor, Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), he takes this idea and opens his own firm, employing high-pressure sales tactics and shady techniques to earn huge piles of cash. The money comes rolling in, and life becomes fast and exciting. Jordan also turns to alcohol, prostitutes, and drugs (especially cocaine and Quaaludes), as the company grows larger. But how long can this supercharged lifestyle last?
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Director Martin Scorsese draws on his previous movies GoodFellas and Casino for the template of THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, packing in many outrageous details behind a criminal organization over an epic running time. Scorsese, assisted by his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, keeps up an astoundingly intoxicating pace for nearly three hours. A huge cast, including perhaps most memorably Matthew McConaughey, helps out with small, potent performances.
The difference here is that The Wolf of Wall Street may be the funniest movie Scorsese has ever made. Every few minutes it hurls something so shocking and high-spirited that laughter can be the only response. Yet the movie's monstrous energy seems to be fueled by something both exciting and rotten. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a true heavyweight performance, laced with contempt, and he's never truly redeemed. Rather, Scorsese ends his movie on a scene that illustrates the pitfalls of desire, and how it can never be entirely fulfilled.
Families can talk about...
- Families can talk about the movie's extensive use of sex. Does any of it come from a loving, respectful relationship? How do women fare in this movie and in these sexual relationships?
- What's the appeal of a character with such questionable morals? Martin Scorsese often makes movies about these kinds of characters. Why is he so highly respected and acclaimed?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 2013 |
| DVD release date: | March 25, 2014 |
| Cast: | Jonah Hill, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey |
| Director: | Martin Scorsese |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Topics: | History |
| Run time: | 180 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence |
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I hated this movie
I am 67 and ashamed that I saw this movie. Would NEVER recommend it to anyone of any age. A piece of filth that should have been X-rated. Words fail me as to how disgusting this was. Shameful, no redeeming value, no excuse for this trash to not be rated X. See something else.
What other families should know
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
The Wolf of Wall Street: In the Running for the Worst Movie Ever
The Wolf of Wall Street is the only movie I have ever walked out on in my entire life. The film is nothing but a nonstop orgy of sex and drugs. It is not only terrible without any kind of redeeming quality, but just disturbing. I am a healthy teenage boy, and I have the same hormones and urges I'm supposed to, but even I thought this was too far. Female breasts every five seconds, an entire scene dedicated to the hookers these people use, and the bachelor party, a mass of naked bodies having sex with anything they can get their hands on, are all prime examples of how bad this is. If I could go back in time, I would go to 5 pm today to tell myself to watch another movie just so I could forget what I watched. My suggestion: don't see this movie and tell everyone you know to do the same. If you really want to watch a bunch of people get high and have sex, you'd be better off looking it up on the internet, at least then you don't have to pay for movie tickets and go all the way to a movie theater. For parents: don't let your kids see this movie, if you do they'll end up like me: scarred for life, feeling sick to my stomach, and every second, regretting the decision to see that movie. I can say today was the worst birthday I have ever had, even worse than the time I barfed my guts out and was forced to cancel my birthday celebration so I could sit in bed bed and feel sick.
What other families should know
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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Porn Flick
This movie was nothing sort of a porn flick. Disgusting relentless vulgar language. Non stop graphic sexual behavior. Very misleading trailer. Film should be rated X!!!! Not suitable for kids or adults. Way too much of everything. Totally offended, Got up and left. Requested a refund.
What other families should know
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Was this review useful?
