Monday, April 17, 2006

Wall Street (English)

Movie: Wall Street
Starring: Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen (of 'Hot shots' fame), Martin Sheen
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/

What according to you, is an 'intelligent' movie?
Do you know what I mean?

Most movies are saying what they have to say ....spewing nonsense, in that process, at times. Most dont really respect your intellect as a discerning viewer.
(Some might argue though, that your intelligence does not matter in movies - people connect to certain movies based on their upbringing /their circumstances of life)

What I was trying to hint was that the movie 'Wall Street' moves on a certain different plane. It's got mystery, drama, deceit, action, emotions but never compromising the baselines of reality and technical truths.

Michael Douglas plays Gordon Gekko, a mean corporate big-shot prowler....and plays it deliciously (!!). Charlie Sheen is Bud Fox, a young small-time broker in the wall street stock markets and wants to make it big. The movie,in short, is how he gets trapped in Gekko's web, thanks to his greed to make it big - this way or that way. Gekko on the other hand has his agenda clear, which the director establishes slowly but clearly, and hence finds the perfect sacrificial lamb in Fox. What follows is a dangerous game - so watch the movie to see the result of the game!

The dialogue delivery and enactment by Gekko at many places is electrifying to say the least. Michael Douglas, although eventually has become popular for his adult thrillers, displays here a rare talent of playing the viscious scorpion extremely well. I LOVED EVERY MOMENT HE WAS ON SCREEN. One could watch the movie just for him. The role goes beyond an ordinary villainous portrayal, and the dialogues blend their way (like 'Greed is GOOD!') into everyday American Corporate Rhetoric. Take a look at this! This is a popular scene of the movie with some brilliant acting by Douglas.

Another movie of Douglas I liked a lot was 'The Game' for his *honest* portrayal of what emotions his character in the movie undergoes. (By the way, quiz time! The ending of The Game was recently 'flicked' by a popular Bollywood blockbuster. Do you know which? :) )

Another interesting relationship portrayed in the movie is the reel father-son relationship of real life father-son Martin and Charlie Sheen. Full points!
What you can't miss is the passion the director shows for capturing the intricate details of the stock markets and how he presents them so that it does not become completely an over-head transmission.

I was watching this movie 'Shikhar' starring Ajay Devgan and Shahid Kapoor the other day. Devgan plays GG (Gaurav Gupta) a builder out to take over a large amount of land to build his own empire. Just GG sounds fishy?! During half way I was convinced this was an attempted subtle remake of 'Wall Street' :-) by John Matthew Matthan. Both are about GREED! The place where Matthan fails is the editing and the climax clearly is 'specially ordered for Bollywood' - alas!

Watch the original - Wall Street - for some hi-fi politico-emotional stuff.

More suggested reading: Forbes Fictional fifteen

Added in 2011: 'Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps' - what was that all about!?

3 comments:

Murali said...

baloney na?! akatakata ! My brother has been consumed by american lingo!! :D

Sakkataageno itthu wall street..... adhu opkotheeni

Shine on u crazy diamond !

Karan said...

damn i watch a lotta movies!
:D :P
heyyy
one more suggestion.. the insider!

Madhu said...

Consumed - is that a better word than exhumed? (Mindless comment increasing tactics....baah!!)

murli have u seen it?? also watch disclosure...Douglas does well for himself (even in bed apparently i guess)

Karan - I started watching Insider and the dvd got stuck! damn...gotta watch it ...but good combo - Russel Crowe and Al Pacino..