The Plot, to simply put it, is bad. A Wall Street movie set in 2008 promises way more than it delivers. This movie focuses on the relationship between Shia and Carey's characters instead of the devastating crisis we're going through.
This movie is probably worth watching just for the cast only, despite the fact that the characters generally tend to be one-dimensional. Starting with the cameos and supports, Susan Sarandon is always good to see, even when in this near-cameo role she can breeze through while sleep-walking. Frank Langella has a meatier role, eve though still essentially cameo. During the lamentably short times when he appears, the screen brightens up and the movie is lifted a notch. Almost the same can be said about Eli Wallach (a really cameo appearance) whose recent appearance in "New York, I love you" is all but unforgettable. Josh Brolin did not get a chance to shine here as he did in "W" or even "Milk" but delivers as a cardboard villain. Shia LaBeouf shuns his rebellious juvenile screen persona and is almost too good to be true here. Carey Mulligan has made the best of the feeble material she has been given and is even at times mesmerizing. Another thing I see is an uncanny resemblance to my all-time number one screen lady Jean Simmons, if you think of movies like "Guys and dolls" (1955), "The big country" (1958) and "Elmer Gantry" (1960). I think it's that facial expression with that faint smile at the corner of her lips. But if there is something that is really worth the price of your admission, it's a speech delivered by Michael Douglas to a large audience of essentially college type and young professional, a sales pitch of the protagonist's new book. It occurs about half hour into the movie. So if you are habitually late, don't be THAT late to miss that part.
This could have been one of the greatest movies of this year. Instead, it's one of the worst. Only the cast and their performances had just about saved the film.
Rating:
2.25 / 5