The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a New York stockbroker working the penny stocks, living the American Dream, with his aggressive pitching; Belfort soon starts to earn himself a fortune. With the money piling up, he befriends Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), a neighbour and salesman. Together they start their own firm, taking on several of Belfort’s friends (all of whom are experienced pot dealers). Whilst the company strives into a billion dollar company, a life of corruption, excess, debauchery with lavish parties (which includes sex and drugs not only in their personal lives but in the workplace too). But can all this fast living and corrupt success can’t last forever as the FBI starts to close in Belfort’s life of excess.
From the acclaimed Director, Martin Scorsese, this dark biographical comedy is brought to life by not only this director and a cast of DiCaprio, Hill and Matthew McConaughey (who by the way does not look his usual hot self). However, the film maybe highly entertaining but could be classed as highly irresponsible in glamourising corruption, sex and drugs in such a way which makes these people celebrities. The people who suffered the most damage to their lives are mostly forgotten. If your morals are quite conservative, this probably isn’t the film for you.
SEE IF YOU LIKED: Wall Street, The Departed
Devils Due
Samantha (Allison Miller) and Zach (Zach Gilford), a newlywed couple find themselves to be dealing with a sooner than expected pregnancy after a night on their honeymoon which neither can remember. Zach, for prosperity, decides to film every step of the pregnancy, but soon recognises some very strange behaviour in his wife that they just decide to dismiss as nerves at the birth of their first-born. As the months pass, things take a very disturbing turn when Samantha’s behaviour becoming extremely erratic; it becomes all too clear that the dark changes to her body and mind have a much more sinister origin.
With a cast of….. no one you probably would have heard of the film follows in the same vein, All credit to the trailer makers as they have made this come across as an unnerving thriller/horror which could make you jump out of your skin. Even though Eli Roth (director of The Last Exorcism and Hostel) gave it a glowing review by calling it a legit scary, smart horror film, The truth is, Devil’s due is just weak in storyline and script, unfortunately, and what is highly common in the horror genre these days, the film just has no sustenance. In fact it’s only saving grace is the surprise ending.
SEE IF YOU LIKED: Paranormal Activity, The Devil Inside.
MY PICK OF THE WEEK: THE WOLF OF WALL STREET.