By Sachin Chatte
Film: Wall Street – Money Never Sleeps
Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LeBeouf, Carey Mulligan
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Duration: 130 minutes
Rating: * * *
More than a couple of decades after Oliver Stone made Wall street (1987) here comes the sequel that talks about the present state of financial affairs in America. Stone uses the back drop of the 2008 financial crises to tell a story that is more about people rather than the stock markets.
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is back. After being sent to prison for insider trading, in circa 2001 he is out and looks wiser. Greed is not necessarily good, that’s what he thinks and promotes his new book. Jake (Shia LeBeouf) is young smart Wall Street guy who specialises in alternative energy investments and he is in love with Gekko’s daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan).
Meanwhile, Jake’s boss (Frank Langella) is in deep trouble as the company is running huge bad debts. One of the reasons for this mess is Bretton (Josh Brolin) who is pursuing his own agenda. Jake gets in touch with Gordon for more reasons that one. First, to make amends between father and daughter and second, the old man also offers some important tips and advice.
The story then fast forwards to 2008 when the sub prime market triggered a collapse of financial institutions in America and Jake gets caught on the wrong side. The finale though wraps up things a bit too conveniently. Rather than just one story or character, the film has many of them. A film could be made virtually from the three mains characters point of view. The two male characters are more fascinating – Gordon Gekko keeps switching between the good and bad, so it’s not clear what exactly his stand is.
The running time of the film (2 hrs plus) could have also been curtailed to make it a lighter package. The cast is in fine fettle. Carey Mulligan (last years Oscar nominee for An Education) plays her part with conviction. Michael Douglas is menacing and effective as Gordon Gekko. Eli Wallach (the legendary ugly from The Good the Bad and the Ugly) is also seen in a cameo. Shia LeBeouf is the big surprise. We have seen him in mundane roles like those he played in Transformer and the last Indiana Jones, but this is his best performance till date. In sum, if you are patient, Wall Street makes for a decent outing.
