Wall Street (1987)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Stanley Weiser (written by) &
Oliver Stone (written by)

Release Date:

11 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Every dream has a price.

Plot:

A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider whom takes the youth under his wing.

Plot Keywords:

Greed | Stock | Corporate Raider | 1980s | Money

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Charlie Sheen	...	Bud Fox
Tamara Tunie	...	Carolyn
Franklin Cover	...	Dan
Chuck Pfeiffer	...	Chuckie (as Chuck Pfeifer)
John C. McGinley	...	Marvin
Hal Holbrook	...	Lou Mannheim
James Karen	...	Lynch
Leslie Lyles	...	Natalie
Michael Douglas	...	Gordon Gekko
Faith Geer	...	Natalie's Assistant
Frank Adonis	...	Charlie
John Capodice	...	Dominick
Martin Sheen	...	Carl Fox
Suzen Murakoshi	...	Girl in Bed
Dani Klein	...	Receptionist

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

21 Club - 21 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

At the Teldar Paper stockholders meeting, the name card of the man at the end of the back row on the right hand side reads "Sean Stone" (it can be seen over Gordon Gekko's shoulder). Sean Stone is Oliver Stone's son, who also featured in the movie.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Gekko gives bud fox his ''wake up'' call from the beach, the sun is in the west.

Quotes:

Gordon Gekko: It's all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Proud Flesh (#5.13)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

AMERICA IS WAITING

Oh That Wild and Crazy 1980s Yuppie Culture.

Deceptively deep and complex picture from co-writer/director Oliver Stone paints a vivid portrait of 1980s over-excesses as the age of "Me, Me, Me" (otherwise known as the 1980s) is explored through the eyes of a young, eager and impatient stockbroker (Charlie Sheen) who moonlights as a liaison to a heartless, ruthless and crazily greedy mega-millionaire (Michael Douglas in a smashing Oscar-winning turn) who seemingly has his hands on most every aspect of big business. Naturally dilemmas occur in every direction for Sheen as the lifestyle he wants comes at a very heavy price (both literally and figuratively). A strained relationship with his father (real-life dad Martin Sheen) and a whirlwind fling with the superficial Daryl Hannah just leads to more and more cinematic fireworks. "Wall Street" is really the only film I can think of to deal seriously with its subject matter. Everyone of the age remembers the yuppie phase this nation had in the mid-1980s. Young urban professionals did their best to make as much as they could as fast as possible (sometimes through crooked and illegal means). The idea of retiring at 40 seemed like a good notion, but those same people with those thoughts are still working today (they never made their millions or they made their money and ended up going into a lifetime of debt because they spent their earnings quicker than they could make it). Ultimately the 1980s was good while it lasted, but good like that never lasts forever and that becomes painfully clear as Sheen's character becomes a warning to all those who think they can out-think and manipulate a strained economic system. Douglas is a complete revelation. I mean there is no doubt that he is an excellent performer, but his portrayal of a money- and power-mad player in New York is truly one of those instances of classic career work being achieved. Super-slick, wickedly intelligent and definitely a thinking person's movie, "Wall Street" continues to strike a chord when looking back at a very unique time of American economic history. 4.5 out of 5 stars.