Twenty-three years later, Gordon Gekko is back. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps stars Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf and Josh Brolin in the sequel to the 1987 hit, Wall Street. Obviously much has changed in the financial world since the first movie, but the plot starts where the original left off - with Gordon Gekko (Douglas) finally leaving prison in 2002.
Gekko, once the most influential man on Wall Street, was imprisoned for insider trading. Now, the world has seemed to have passed him by. His children have abandoned him, his wealth has been stripped and the world of finance has turned into a global system run by large investment banks. Although his monetary wealth is now gone, his wealth of knowledge proves to be even more valuable as he recreates his identity, reestablishes the relationship with his daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan) and lends a hand to his soon-to-be son-in-law, Jake Moore (LaBeouf). Moore is a young hotshot stockbroker who loses his job as a result of the financial collapse.
Trying to preserve both his relationship with Winnie and his financial stability while seeking revenge for his losses, Moore takes aim at one of the world's wealthiest investors, Bretton James (Brolin), whom he blames for the loss of his livelihood. The movie holds true to one of the most famous lines from the original - "Greed is good" - but shows that it can come with a price. It questions whether people can ever change or be motivated by something other than the bottom line of money.
Oliver Stone directed both Wall Street films, and as in many of his projects such as W. and World Trade Center, he mixes historic and political events with his storyline. Given the state of the United States' economy, this film couldn't have come at a better time. All of today's most pressing economic topics are touched upon: bank collapses, failing housing markets, Chinese investment, alternative energy - the list goes on. Even though the details shown in the film are obviously fictional, they provide entertainment that strikes a chord with the audience.
The core subject matter of the story may be timely, but Gekko proves to be timeless. From his witty, dry, egotistical one-liners, to his style of clothing and lavish lifestyle, Douglas delivers again with arguably the best character of his career. LaBeouf also takes another large step in his young acting life. Following his role in Transformers, it was clear that he had the talents to headline an action blockbuster but the question of whether he deliver in a serious dramatic role was unanswered. He answers the critics and embraces his position as the clear main character. Although Douglas starred in the original, it is LaBeouf who steals this show.
Wall Street offers everything we look for in a movie today: great acting from both young and old stars and a story relevant to current times. Buying stock can be risky in today's economy, but Money Never Sleeps is a sure pick.
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