The original Wall Street and Gordon Gekko created a cult around stock broking. People wanted to get into finance specifically for all the wrong reasons portrayed in the film (money, power, sex) The excess of the late 80's has continued unabated and recently we all payed the price for that greed. The story starts when Gekko gets out of prison and the world has changed (or has it) the bulky mobile phone illustrates just how out of touch he is supposed to be. But Gekko being Gekko writes a books and predicts the market crash. A very green, miscast Shia Lebeouf [ god knows why he is cast again and again by big directors] is in love with Gekko's daughter and in awe of Gekko himself. Lots of the usual crap about the crash is hurled around and Carey Mulligan as Gekko's daughter and voice of conscience (she edits a leftist website called Frozen Truth) trembles her lips, not very convincingly for atleast 20 mins in the movie.
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Winnie Gekko and up and coming stockbroker Jake are in looouuuu. Jake works under Lou Zabel(briliantly portrayed by Frank Langella) and specialises in green tech. He is trying for funds for a laser fusion project which he thinks is the next big thing. Lou has made a few bad decisions (the ones all big banks in the US made recently) and the bank is on the brink of collapse due to some rumours spread by Bretton James (a sleepwalking Josh Brolin). Lou gives a huge bonus to Jake and tells him to enjoy life while he can. Jake believing blindly in his mentor and the bank, uses up all the money to buy its stock and an engagement ring. The bank crashes. Lou commits suicide by dramatically jumping in front of a train before eating a packet of Lays (good product placement?) Jake wants revenge and spreads rumours about Bretton's bank Churchills something (supposed to be Lehman?) causing some loss. Bretton is impressed and invites him to join his green tech department. A few token chinese clients are also present (one talks like he has a serious Bharatnatyam fetish) Meanwhile he also gets in touch with Gekko to help Winnie get over the bitterness she has towards her father and also because he is in awe of Gekko. He starts getting advice from him, and we all know what happens to people who follow Gekko's advice. They take their revenge on Bretton. Winnie gets pregnant. A few scenes later, where the US market crash and the governments role is played out, Jake realises all the acting and tears and advice were given so that Winnie would sign over the 100 million Gekko had placed in her name in Switzerland (where else?) She reneged when her brother committed suicide, for which she blames Gekko. Jake and Winnie break up.
The writer for the original movie was Stanley Weiser, he wrote a script and then pulled out, to our great loss. We would have been spared the sight of a sonogram as a plot driver. Jake actually plays it to Gekko to entice him to give the money back (he wants to use it to fund his fusion lasers) We should be a little thankful though that he doesn't fall for it immediately. He uses the money to make a few more billions and then gives the original amount back to the simpering thankful couple. Though the recent movie's writer Allan Loeb is supposed to be a licensed stockbroker, it doesn't have a single original thought. Except maybe the juxtaposition of the market graph with the New York and London skylines.
6/10
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