When iconic movies get remade or have a sequel produced, the launch is often awaited with a sense of dread and anticipation. The buzz concerning the second “Wall Street” film has just such that air. The film, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” has been hotly predicted. The original film was launched not long following the stock market crash in the 1980s. Douglas is back as Gekko within the sequel, which takes place midst of the real estate crash of 2008. There is a popular thread in both films. Unbridled greed and dishonest dealings within the realm of high finance leading to disaster.
’Wall Street’: The Investors Hit Back
The real estate crisis of 2008 is the setting for the second film, as the stock market crash of the 1980s was the setting of the first. The beginning of the film is the release of Gordon Gekko, notorious corporate raider and insider trader, from prison. It is assumed that he went to jail following the end of the first film. It is a legendary role. It won Douglas an Oscar, and legions of enthusiasts. Gekko, earning a living by giving lectures to students, is enlisted by his estranged daughters’ fiancé, played by Shia LaBeouf, to bring about a corrupt hedge fund managers’ ruin. It is partly a story of sabotage of the wicked. Nevertheless, the film, nicknamed however not actually titled “Wall Street 2,” is also a story of redemption.
Wall Street within the real life
The movie is just a movie. Most individuals on Wall Street actually get that. A recent op-ed within the Wall Street Journal by Martin Fridson claims that the movie is great for conveying the outrage, the real causes of the crash are more complex. On the ABC site, a corporate lawyer who works on Wall Street also opined the movie is great entertainment, but little more than that. Dramatic portrayals of historic events often leave out crucial details, for the sake of sensation. Oliver Stone is no stranger to this kind of criticism, and Wall Street heavyweights which were technical advisors lamented his liberal use of license over portraying the complexities of real life.
Madoff and Lehman ruined the bushel
There is some truth within the cliché that a bad apple ruins a lot. It is kind of a shame. Numerous on Wall Street work incredibly ethically and unbelievably hard. That said, that sort of thing does not sell tickets or magazines sadly. The film “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” would be dull if that was the subject.
Additional reading
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Business/films-taking-wall-street/story?id=11712654 and page=3
Wall Street Journal
blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2010/09/24/a-wall-street-veteran-on-wall-street-2/
