Wall Street (1987)

Michael Douglas richly deserved his Academy Award for his memorable role as Gordon Gekko, the king of Wall Street. Charlie Sheen should have been nominated for his performance as Bud Fox, a young inspiring and ambitious trader. Martin Sheen played Bud's father. The cast is first rate with Daryl Hannah, Sean Young, John C. McGinley, Hal Holbrook and others in this Oliver Stone production. The director makes a cameo in there too. The film was done entirely on location in New York City and the twin towers were still at the foot of Manhattan. It's a great story to show for those interested in working in the financial industry about what and what not to do. The film was dedicated to Oliver's father, Louis, who was a stockbroker.

The characters are interesting and richly developed, with the exception of Darryl Hannah's underwritten character. I can see why she didn't like playing that role. Douglas is always a joy to watch, and makes a suave yet slimy villain. I wouldn't necessarily say he deserved an Oscar, but he did a fine job nonetheless. So did Charlie Sheen, who is actually the star of the film despite the fact that most people remember "Wall Street" for Douglas as Gordon Gecko. Sheen gives a fine multi-dimensional performance. I love the scenes between him and his father Martin Sheen, who plays his father in the film. Oliver Stone made a great choice casting the father-and-son team, since the tension in their scenes feels very authentic.There are some predictable plot turns and character arcs, but altogether Stone keeps the excitement going. I like how the climactic scene between Douglas and Sheen is shot without cuts, with the camera moving from person to person, keeping the tension going. If I knew at least an inkling about the stock market, I wouldn't be completely lost during certain scenes, but what can you do? I still think it's a fine film with solid performances.

"Wall Street" was made in 1987, by writer and director Oliver Stone and starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Darryl Hannah, and John C. McGinley. A young stockbroker after months of persistence finally bags the big fish, Gordon Gekko, a man whose presence and lifestyle he idolizes. He shuns his blue collar background in pursuit of greed and impatiently engages in illegal insider trading. The 80's was characterized by hotshot young executives looking for the quick and easy buck, and Oliver Stone portrayed that very well here. Gordon Gekko is the benchmark corporate villain, someone who one see's the world only in shades of green. The acting in this movie is first rate, especially from Michael Douglas. The long lines of dialogue, the speeches, and the emotional undertones are a challenge for any actor, and all involved here did an excellent job. I often watch "Wall Street" just for the acting.Probably an undervalued asset to this film is one of my favorites, John C. McGinley whom you'll remember as one of the Bob's from Office Space and his role of Dr. Cox on Scrubs. Always there to heckle and mock his good friend and has some of the best one-liners in the movie. Actually three of the main five lines people quote from this movie can all be attributed to this character he developed. The dealing room-scenes are some of the most exhilarating scenes in the history of cinematography. Spielberg sucked in audiences with his scenes of Normandy's beaches in '44. Stone creates the same spellbinding grip on the audience without getting anybody shot or brutally maimed. That alone is a great achievement for any director in Hollywood. Honestly, everything about this movie seems to work perfectly, in closing, I would like to praise Wall Street for being such a great film. An absolute masterpiece of 80's filmmaking and one of the best films ever made.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.

First of all this movie isn't just about money, this movie is about human nature in your more basic form, with love, ambition and greed. Show us human as we really are, for good and for bad. But more than it, shows society how the system works.Although the main theme is about Wall Street the movie has a excellent story, the main business man in this movie is Gordon Geeko, which represent a experiment and wealthy man, and his pupil, Bud Fox, a young and hunger for money business man. Greed is the main ingredient for this film, but not just, in the list is Wall Street and all the society, is sad, but is true.Finally this movies shows two big things: lacks in the meritocracy when someone break the moral and how all the capitalism works. The main lesson is cash is just one of the capitals in this system. Greed is the main capital of all.I strong recommend this movies, not just by his amazing final directors cut, but for his lessons about our society and ourself.