Wall Street

Michael Douglas. He makes this special. Otherwise it’s just a classic story about how the apprentice made it to the top and challenges his master to a duel. But this time the setting is speculation on the stock market. Charlie Sheen is also great here. "Greed ... has marked the upward surge of mankind…" (01/29/2010)

I am about as familiar with stock market events, selling, buying, rising or falling stock prices as a chamois is with driving a steam locomotive. And that's probably why I didn't really enjoy Wall Street, since I had absolutely no idea what was going on during many of the scenes. Fortunately, the basic story was understandable despite this fact, the actors were excellent and Oliver Stone managed to produce a number of memorable scenes (the arrest was the best in my view). Wall Street isn't one of his best films, but it's certainly one of his very good ones. (02/03/2014)

A film that defines Oliver Stone’s filmmaking as such. After all, what else invites a more poignant critique of the capitalist system than Wall Street itself? The simple tale of an insignificant bloke in a crowded office who gets money, and then a personal epiphany, serves as a springboard for Stone to the greater goal of Gordon Gekko. A demon that symbolizes the perversity of the world's financial system and all that inherently goes with it. The arrogance and recklessness materialized in Michael Douglas in such a way that it's no wonder he took home the most valuable acting award for the role. One could argue for hours over how tendentious this film is, but it will forever remain without debate that it is one of Stone’s best films. 4 ½. PS: Daryl Hannah looks like a barely made-up transvestite from the line of S.J. Parker, etc. (04/02/2010)

Oliver Stone's directing is superbly dynamic and evocative, as usual, but for a viewer not particularly interested in economics, this film can often be very confusing. Stone doesn't hold the viewer's hand, he doesn’t give any explanations or guiding hints. But all of this doesn't change the fact that Michael Douglas plays his role brilliantly, and Charlie Sheen is consistently good. Sunlit shots of the New York skyline – a feast for the eyes – and the attractive world of the rich will captivate practically anyone. Stone chooses interesting stories and works with them in an even more interesting way. Wall Street is not his best film, but as usual, it is at a very solid level. (04/08/2006)

Good movie. A nice example of how capitalism infiltrates our nature and how it can destroy us. How we chase money without actually having a proper goal and without perceiving what is actually right and what is wrong. The actors in their roles are excellent and precise; it's a shame that Charlie didn't have more luck and more similar films. Although in his case, it wasn't just luck. (06/21/2017)