Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
2010
**½
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Frank Langella, Eli Wallach, Susan Sarandon, Austin Pendleton, Sylvia Miles
Jacob Moore is an ambitious but naive trader who is about to marry the daughter of Gordon Gekko, the charismatic villain of Wall Street (1987), who has served his time in prison. He approaches Gekko and hopes to pick his brain, and repair the relationship between his future wife and father-in-law. The original was a Faustian morality play and a strong condemnation of greed; the financial wheeling and dealing came with a human price. The sequel is set against the global crisis in 2008, but, even with the benefit of the hindsight, Oliver Stone seems to have nothing to say about the financial markets. Now we're to feel sorry for over-priviledged millionaires who make losses on a bad investment. However, even if the film is trivial, it's perfectly watchable. That is, until the incredibly stupid feelgood ending. Shia LaBeouf in the lead is charmless and wooden, but the wonderful Michael Douglas thankfully lights up every scene he is in.
