Meletē

I went into it knowing very little about the film. Suffice it to say I was very surprised how graphic and hard to watch it was. It's still hard for me to believe that it is based on a true story. Despite being somewhat repulsed by the entire lifestyle, I couldn't help but root for Belfort throughout. DiCaprio succeeded in making Belfort seem completely charismatic and also juvenile and immature. The film made all of the personal consequences pretty clear, but I agree with some criticism I read that was calling for more depiction of the actual victims of the whole situation. Overall, it was an intense watch, but a strong critique of the culture of Wall Street during that time period. I've heard some people refer to the lifestyle depicted in the film as desirable, and I also saw some criticism along those lines. I definitely didn't feel that way at the end of the movie and felt that it didn't overly glorify the lifestyle. I would recommend the film but caution that the level of excess across the board is hard to watch.

I finished this movie and I didn't know what to think. I was totally engrossed with it the whole time and was surprised when it ended. It was so intense throughout and both Teller and Simmons were mesmerizing to watch. I think the fact that I am still thinking about the ending a week later shows how much it resonated with me. While you could argue from watching the film that the abusive style ultimately worked, I feel like it dragged Neiman down too. He ultimately completely sacrificed his personal life and other elements that defined his character. Throughout the film, his intense drive is undeniable. However, one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was his level of insecurity. The scene at the dinner table, when Neiman tries to prove to the family how impressive he is, seems to contradict his self-confidence in other moments. This level of insecurity seemed unrealistic and made me less sympathetic to his character. That was just one small detail that nagged me throughout, but did not takeaway much from the film overall. Incredibly intense film that takes a critical look at the sacrifices necessary on the path to greatness.

I watched this one in the theaters and went in with high expectations from reading the book. I had remembered liking the book but read it long enough ago that I didn't actually remember how it ended which made it even more fun to watch. I am a big fan of Gosling, and I thought that he gave another great performance in this film. I was engaged the whole time and walked away feeling like it exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend seeing this one in a theater; the shots of space on the big screen were so cool.

This was a fun watch. I always love the chemistry between Gosling and Stone. I also thought Carell added a lot to the film and gave a good performance. Overall, a lighthearted, funny, sometimes cringeworthy in a good way film with a great cast.