In "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," Gordon Gekko is introduced slowly, and deceptively casually. Hovering around like a banished king waiting to prosper, the onetime Master of the Universe is flinty, his suits a summery olive, his hair wavy.
But when you see that slick combed-back style from 23 years ago, watch out - because both Gekko and this great movie are playing to win.
Everyone involved with Oliver Stone's sterling sequel to his '87 classic brings their A-game.
Costumer Ellen Mirojnick puts heroes in morally ambiguous gray, and Josh Brolin's villain in demonic red.
Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography makes the city a character, with the Manhattan skyline eerily transparent. On the street, characters sink low or have reconciliations on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum.
That's where Gekko and his daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), connect after Gekko, who mellowed serving seven years in prison, starts mentoring Winnie's fiancé, Jake (Shia LaBeouf). It's mid-2008, and as the recession looms, Jake is looking for answers to why his investment firm collapsed.
Gekko may be shady, but Bretton James (Brolin) is pure evil - he's Gekko 2.0. James, a kingpin with SEC connections, has his dirty hands in a lot of pies, and he also wants Jake as his protégé. As the housing bubble bursts, Jake must choose which devil he'll trust more.
The biggest difference between the original "Wall Street" and this film isn't Gekko's possible evolution to human being; it's the sense of dread Stone adds to almost every scene.
Working from Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff's astute script, Stone holds us all accountable for not caring as our economy barreled toward catastrophe.
In "Money Never Sleeps," greed is a constant high, with everyone chasing the dragon.
Brolin, as a memorable villain, charges through his scenes as if hell-bent on destruction, while LaBeouf plays Jake as if he can smell success just around the corner. Mulligan, Susan Sarandon and Frank Langella add excellent support, and even Charlie Sheen shows up as Bud Fox, the wanna-be who helped put his mentor, Gekko, behind bars.
But Douglas is the nexus. He won a Best Actor Oscar the first time around, and this time gives Gekko uncounted layers as he fakes, deals and fuels fires. Stone makes Gekko the speaker of hard truths, and Douglas makes that investment pay off - big-time.
But when you see that slick combed-back style from 23 years ago, watch out - because both Gekko and this great movie are playing to win.
Everyone involved with Oliver Stone's sterling sequel to his '87 classic brings their A-game.
Costumer Ellen Mirojnick puts heroes in morally ambiguous gray, and Josh Brolin's villain in demonic red.
Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography makes the city a character, with the Manhattan skyline eerily transparent. On the street, characters sink low or have reconciliations on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum.
That's where Gekko and his daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), connect after Gekko, who mellowed serving seven years in prison, starts mentoring Winnie's fiancé, Jake (Shia LaBeouf). It's mid-2008, and as the recession looms, Jake is looking for answers to why his investment firm collapsed.
Gekko may be shady, but Bretton James (Brolin) is pure evil - he's Gekko 2.0. James, a kingpin with SEC connections, has his dirty hands in a lot of pies, and he also wants Jake as his protégé. As the housing bubble bursts, Jake must choose which devil he'll trust more.
The biggest difference between the original "Wall Street" and this film isn't Gekko's possible evolution to human being; it's the sense of dread Stone adds to almost every scene.
Working from Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff's astute script, Stone holds us all accountable for not caring as our economy barreled toward catastrophe.
In "Money Never Sleeps," greed is a constant high, with everyone chasing the dragon.
Brolin, as a memorable villain, charges through his scenes as if hell-bent on destruction, while LaBeouf plays Jake as if he can smell success just around the corner. Mulligan, Susan Sarandon and Frank Langella add excellent support, and even Charlie Sheen shows up as Bud Fox, the wanna-be who helped put his mentor, Gekko, behind bars.
But Douglas is the nexus. He won a Best Actor Oscar the first time around, and this time gives Gekko uncounted layers as he fakes, deals and fuels fires. Stone makes Gekko the speaker of hard truths, and Douglas makes that investment pay off - big-time.
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