RACING FOR GOLD: MEN AND CORRUPTION
In his latest collaboration with the Big Boss, Leonardo Di Caprio gives the finest performance of his career as “The Wolf of Wall Street”, a greedy, compulsive drug addicted business man in Master Scorsese’s take on corruption, glory and self-destruction with the aesthetic of a ‘Spring Breakers’ in Wall Street. The film follows the audacious and fearless anti-hero throughout 3 hours, as he manages to build a millionaire empire avoiding fiscal responsibilities, while living ‘la vida loca’, spending his earnings with women, luxurious parties, extravaganzas and drugs. And the latest is his weakest temptation: he declares he loves it, and he does everything he finds in order to fulfill his anxieties and complete his daily tasks. Although the film points to the drastic consequences his life-style leads him to, drugs here appear as a highlight, as an element that helps opening doors to success, especially due to some characters suggesting drugs as a necessary habit among wealthy men. Leo’s character’s obsessive experiences lead him to a convicted addiction, losing his senses from time to time. Despite that aspect, which I believe is very important, especially because most teenagers are interested in the film, and that could influence many to go wild(er), Scorsese creates an irresistible and intriguing character, one that will live for ages, giving Di Caprio the opportunity to become his next De Niro. The same subject, corruption and money-laundering, is also the center of “American Hustle”, where Christian Bale practices some comedic skills as the leader of a scam that extorts money from investors worldwide, and soon is investigated by the FBI. Directed by David O. Russell, the film is a great production, well written and with fantastic performances by Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper but it feels overrated, repetitive and presumptuous. Throughout the narrative it feels like it could’ve been better counting the large amount of respected talents involved. Although she’s incredibly seductive, I totally disagree Jennifer Lawrence should be praised for her role here, because it is very similar to what she played in last year’s “Silver Linings”, for which she won the Oscar. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey is an actor who keeps proving he gets better and better. In “Dallas Buyers Club” he plays magnificently the protagonist, an abusive hustler from Texas who’s diagnosed with HIV and has to deal with his insecurities, his homophobic behavior while fighting the authorities to allow a treatment medicine in the country. The film is a showcase that deals with real issues such as the manipulation of the pharmaceutical industry and for Jared Leto, whose touching performance may earn him an Oscar. Undoubtedly, McConaughey is terrific but his losing weight process doesn’t indicate the status for a Best Actor award. I go for the Slave!
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