Ode to Greed

The rumors have been swirling this year that production is this close to beginning on a sequel to the 1987 movie Wall Street. And, of course, its subject matter -- a tale of criminal traders letting their greed get the best of them -- is all very topical these days, or so many talking heads have said. It all served as the last little push to get me to check out the original, which I'd never seen before.

Unfortunately, I found the movie to be all sizzle and no substance. The performances are good, chiefly that of Michael Douglas as king sleaze Gordon Gekko. You'd expect that, of course, as he won the Academy Award for this role. I don't know that I'd put the work on quite that level, but it is a slick and greasy performance, and utterly unlike the romantic leads for which he was known at the time. (Kathleen Turner is nowhere in sight!)

Charlie Sheen convincingly portrays a young, eager man who is rapidly corrupted by Gekko's influence, and soon the money itself. Martin Sheen is excellent as his incorruptible, hard-working father. Terence Stamp, John C. McGinley, and Hal Holbrook all make an impression in their relatively small roles.

Alright, Daryl Hannah is pretty bad. You can't have it all.

Apparently, though, "all" in this case includes any really meaningful story. I suppose that on a certain level it's entirely appropriate and accurate that a movie about this subject be simplistic and superficial. Still, for a drama that makes such a play at being important, it doesn't have anything to say, doesn't have any real emotion to convey, and doesn't deliver any surprising turns in plot -- as a script, it is wholly unexceptional.

What little point there might be to whole affair, I think it's safe to say that it isn't actually expressed very well. If you need any more evidence, look to interviews that Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen have given over the years; both say they're frequently approached by people in the financial district who say they pursued their current careers after being inspired by this film. That might in some small way explain the current state of affairs in the country, but it sure seems like missing the point to me.

In short, good performances are holding up nothing worth seeing. I rate Wall Street a C-. I can't say I'm looking forward to that sequel.