Fantastic!

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Oliver Stone crafted one of the best film characters in recent memory through his 1987 film, Wall Street. Gordon Gekko the corporate maverick with the motto "greed is good", flawlessly played by Michael Douglas completely owns the film. Also starring Martin and Charlie Sheen, Wall Street captures the journey one man takes trying to climb his way to the top of the stock broking ladder. A brilliant character study delving into the motivations and intricacies of corporate America, Stone delivers his typically scathing view of wealth and politics audiences have come to expect.Gordon Gekko is the king of the stockbrokers in New York during the 1980's. He's ruthless and has the take no prisoners attitude that it takes to get to the top of the heap. He's rich, powerful, and the envy of everyone in his field. Gordon is the hero to up and coming stockbroker, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen). Bud is the product of a modest family upbringing born to airline union representative, Carl (Martin Sheen). After 59 consecutive days of calling Gordon's office hoping for a chance to work for him, Gordon feels charitable on his Birthday, when he accepts Bud's visit and gift. As it turns out, Bud was the one given a gift, as Gordon has finally decided to give him a chance to make a couple investments with his money. Once Bud sees how fast money can be earned as long as the initial investment is more money than he's ever seen in his life. Bud quickly becomes obsessed with the chase and increasingly devoted to seeking money until he completely submits himself to Gordon's notion that "greed, for lack of a better word, is good." The pace and questionable moral compass Gordon operates with eventually takes its toll on Bud in a way that may even end his career.Wall Street is Oliver Stone's manifesto on the consequences of greed and the life-altering effects the chase for capital reaps upon the individual. There is no room left to wonder what Stone thinks of the financial sector or those that work within it. Wall Street is a brilliant character study well-executed due to the brilliant acting on the parts of all involved. The only area where Wall Street suffers is the fact that it doesn't age well, although this is the struggle of any film with a heavy emphasis on technology. The constant shots of computers, phones, and ticker tape in 1987 have the glaring look of being outdated in 2016. The wonderful script, outstanding acting, and fantastic directing make Wall Street a fine film, even despite its dated look. The message of Wall Street persists and, is perhaps, even more necessary in today's political climate.

First of all, I enjoyed MIchael Douglas's performance. He is a natural heel and his Gordon Gekko is superb. He has been created to be the most formidable of bad guys with no regard for anyone but himself. It sound like a certain race for the Republican nominee for President that is going on right now (2016). Beyond this, I found the rest of the cast stiff and uninteresting. The Sheens, for instance, are tired clichés in this. Not only that, they deliver their lines as if they had the script in hand at the first reading. I tired of the pontificating of most of the characters. Bring in Hal Holbrook to say pithy things about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket, wasting his talent. Then there is the usual endless noise of the broker's offices. Finally, the whole thing is so unbelievable. And what's with Darryl Hannah? She is singled out for her great performance. I found her to be absolutely uninteresting. I always thought she looked particularly spooky. It's not the worst movie ever made and it does have that "greed" speech, but even that seemed a bit contrived.

You can't bring up "Wall Street" without mentioning Michael Douglas. The man owns this movie. His "greed is good" speech is iconic because it's so alluring. You've got this despicable corporate raider yapping about survival of the fittest, but oozing charisma throughout. And he takes Charlie Sheen to school in every one of their scenes. He is a thrill to watch. The whole movie has that same level of appeal, which makes for some staggering replay value. Sure, subtlety isn't the movie's strong suit, but then again, you pretty much know that early on. This is a story that's easy to get sucked into. Even the dialogue is seductive (trading jargon comes at you pretty fast, but still manages to make sense - which says a lot, seeing as I don't have a head for finance or stocks).For me, this movie is purely a time capsule; the phones, the look, the feel. It just seems to transport you to a certain 1987 that feels manufactured, but also somehow authentic. There's the sense that this is the world you'd inhabit if you'd just traveled in Gordon Gekko's circles. And it's got its finger on the pulse of the decade's excess, so it feels totally real. In short, this is a pure, uncut '80s movie. And I love everything about it. Copeland's unconventional score, the brilliant casting of Martin Sheen as Charlie's dad (Martin elevates almost every movie he's in) and the easy watchability of the whole thing. 10/10

Oliver Stone's Wall Street is a very interesting, entertaining, and very well acted movie about a young stockbroker named Bud Fox(played by Charlie Sheen) who is trying to be the best stockbroker in New York while working for his banking firm during the daytime hours, and then ends up working for the greedy stockbroker named Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas) who takes him in and goes by his philosophy which are the most famous words in the movie "Greed is good", and at first Bud thinks that he is doing what a stockbroker and doesn't believe that he is doing anything bad even if his father Carl (played by Martin Sheen) is telling him that Gekko is trying to manipulate him into doing these unlawful. Stone uses a great supporting cast for this movie (besides Martin Sheen) but it also consists of Daryl Hannahas Bud's girlfriend Darien, Hal Holbrook as Bud's former boss, and Terence Stamp as Larry Wildman who is a good friend of the Fox family.This movie is a true must see for people who like corporate business dramas, or for people who like movies in general. One of the best movies of 1987.