Plot
In 2001, having served 14 years in prison, Gordon Gekko is released from prison. His wife and children have long abandoned him, and he must build himself up again.
Seven years later, now reformed, he is on a book tour, when Jacob Moore introduces himself. He is not only a stockbroker, but also in a serious relationship with Gordon’s daughter Winnie.
Jacob’s mentor and boss, Louis has just passed by his own hands due to inflammatory information being leaked by Bretton James, one of Louis’ rivals.
It just so happens, that James is the one who leaked the information that led Gekko to go to jail back in 87, and now both Gekko and Moore, plan their revenge, as well as Gekko’s reunion with his daughter.
Direction
Once again directed by Oliver Stone, and his over two decades of experience behind the camera since the first film are noticeable.
While there isn’t any extraordinary scenes with action or violence, instead there is a subtle art behind his direction.
Cast/Characters
Michael Douglas returns as Gekko, with a more nuanced character breakdown. I actually preferred him here, as (for the majority of the film) he is likable, and is wanting to impart his wisdom on Jacob, while trying to reconnect with his daughter. There is the added backstory dramatic moment of his son/her brothers passing between films that adds to his performance.
Shia LeBeouf plays Jacob, and once again shows that he is better than what most people give him credit for. I quite enjoyed his performance, and he consistently delivers in films I’ve seen of his (Fury, Peanut Butter Falcon etc).
Carey Mulligan plays Winnie, and delivers in what is essentially a male dominated film. She has great moments with both Douglas and LeBeouf, and has also done wonders in films where she is the lead too (Promising young woman).
Josh Brolin plays Bretton James, and is essentially the antagonist of the film. I did enjoy him, but if I am going to nitpick, it would have made more sense to hire an older actor – as he was meant to have betrayed Gekko 21 years earlier (Brolin himself was 21 in 1987).
Breakdown
This was one of the earliest “sequel to a film that didn’t need a sequel” and I have to say, I quite liked it. While the world of trading had changed dramatically from 1987, to 2008 (when the film is set), this tends to shift more towards how the economy was impacted by the Global Financial Crisis.
There is an abundant amount of dialogue and screen time dedicated to the world of high finances, and you can tell that Stone’s passion for this is on point. His father worked in this industry, and Stone once again cameo’s as an investor in a small handful of scenes.
This is also a family drama, with Gekko desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter. They have not spoken in years, and it is revealed throughout the film that Rudy his son has died of a drug overdose. The pain Douglas shows in his performance is extraordinary, and while I didn’t find his performance in the first film Oscar worthy – here he proves why he won it.
I did find the narrative pacing off, as in the back half of the film Gekko steals a substantial amount of money from Jacob and Winnie (the $100 m trust fund left for Winnie, that Jacob wanted to invest in a scientific project – which had been an ongoing story point throughout the film). The double cross, and then the 180 just minutes later (where having invested and made 10x the money back, he invests into the project), which gives everyone the happy Hollywood ending. This whole betrayal/double cross and then coming around is so rushed – it should have started much earlier.
There is also a rather pointless arc with Jacob’s mother (played by the amazing Susan Sarandon). It adds almost nothing to the film, and really could have been left on the cutting room floor.
There is a fun cameo by Charlie Sheen who was “just” about to leave his run in Two and a Half Men when he appeared. It didn’t feel like it was Bud, but Charlie Harper (or Sheen).
Overall
Solid, but unnecessary sequel to the 1987 film, has great performances from all the cast (even if I felt Brolin was slightly miscast due to his age).
Douglas gives an (arguably?) better performance here, than he did in the first, and co stars LeBeouf and Mulligan are equally as impressive.
Slightly faulting in the pacing with the narrative, but a solid film with a good ‘revenge’ story.
A recommend, even if the title is terrible.
4/5
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