By Jason O'Brien jaobrien@charter.net
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After Platoon, Stone used a similar story structure to tell a more contemporary story - that of the complex world of the stock market, stock and real estate speculation, and insider trading. Michael Douglas portrayed Gordon Gekko, a ruthless Wall Street tycoon who powers his way through the world, making millions and not caring who gets hurt. In this way, he is very similar to Sargeant Barnes in Platoon.
The good in this scenario is represented by Bud Fox's father, played by Martin Sheen. He is a hard working middle class man who sees the wrong in what Gekko is doing, and when Gekko and Fox propose to buy BlueStar Airlines, the airline he works for, he won't go along, as he sees the greed taking over. To Fox it is not apparent until Gekko decides to break apart the company, breaking his promise. From there, the young idealist man teaches the ruthless shark a lesson, but still suffers for his crimes, much in the same way as Chris Taylor killed Barnes and lived with that murder and the soul of a dark war. He suffered as well. The film is outstanding in the way in tells the story - this film was before Stone really developed a unique style and it shows Stone at his best telling a straightforward story. Another trademark of Stone's began in this film - to deal with a complex issue (stock speculation is not the easiest thing for everyone to understand) and make it understandable - he would do this time and again with other political and historical subjects. Platoon and Wall Street deserve to be placed side by side not only because they were the two earliest successful films of Stone's, but also they represent a story structure which is exactly the same, played out in two entirely different stories, one a story in the Vietnam War, and one a current story on Wall Street. I urge you to watch both of these films and keep this similar story structure in mind - it's amazing how similar and yet how unique both of these powerful films are. J.D.P. LaFrance, a frequent visitor and contributor to the discussions on this site, provides some wonderful memories and reflection on this Oliver Stone classic:
Some of the highlights that really stuck with me this time out: - the use of a gold filter lens at the beginning... Stone establishes the vibe of greed and money right from the get go. - i loved how Charlie Sheen starts off as this insignificant cog in the city, he's mixed in with everyone, getting squished in the subway, in the elevator... packed in like sardines... - John C. McGinley perfectly cast as Sheen's best pal, Marv who gets some vintage lines: Sheen: Marv, I've got a feeling that we're going to make a killing today. - that opening montage of a typical business day... the hectic, rapid-fire pace as people buy, sell and trade shares. there such an exciting, energetic vibe there. - the beautiful teaser of Michael Douglas... we don't see him right off, just hear his voice from within his office. it makes us curious to see him. - the beautiful casting of Martin Sheen as Charlie's union, blue collar working dad. the real life father-son thing makes the chemistry between them genuine. the conversations between them are so good - the whirlwind first appearance of Douglas... does he ever stop talking the whole time? *grin* you can just tell that he was born to play this role right from the start... the way he handles the dialogue, the killer instinct.... incredible! it's a fantastic way to introduce him and how seductively alluring he is to Sheen's character. it is pretty obvious from this scene that the film belongs to Douglas. - the scenes where Douglas tells Sheen how the financial world works, where he tells him how he operates -- esp. the bit in Douglas' limo where he lays it all out and pushes Sheen hard to go into business with him. that is one of THE best scenes in the film IMO.
- the showdown between Terence Stamp and Douglas. man, i had forgotten that Stamp was in this film! it's great to see these two guys square off against each other... both cutthroat businessmen not giving in an inch. Stamp's character's all business while Douglas messes with him. heh! - and of course, Douglas' classic "Greed is good," speech. this has to be one of THE best delivered monologues ever put to film. Douglas ranges from charming to downright threatening. in that speech, he basically sums up the vibe of '80s capitalism and greed. - the bit where Martin Sheen stands up to Douglas, telling him what he really is to his face and actually leaving Douglas speechless as result! - and then the intense scene in the elevator when Charlie and Martin Sheen go at it. when things start to go sour for the junior Sheen. you have to wonder how much of that was acting and how much was drawn on real life. hmm... - the tearful reconcilation between father and son at the hospital. again, the actual relationship between the two Sheens really gives a lot of added emotional power. esp. when the tears start flowing. it is such a heartbreaking moment. - when Douglas tells Sheen to dump his stock in BlueStar and the camera moves in on him and the lighting on him goes to black. a nice bit of cinematography that signals Douglas' downfall. - the final showdown between Douglas and Sheen in the park when we see Douglas' character going against his own advice. he's gotten emotional. he's tried to mould Sheen after his own image but Sheen isn't buying.... not anymore. - the final shot where Sheen is reduced to an insignificant cog in the city yet again. the film ends as it began.
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Charlie Sheen is the character stuck between good and evil again, this time as a young cold caller who finally works his way into Gekko's office. There he learns that honesty and hard work don't pay off the big bucks in this high stakes game. Gekko sees Sheen's character, Bud Fox, as an ambitious and naive young man who could work wonders for him. After some convincing, Bud Fox is convinced and goes along for the ride, continuing on the path as all the dollars come rolling in. Greed overcomes him.
I just watched this film again today and man oh man, does it still hold up
as strong as it ever did. and now that a good ten years or so has passed
it seems like one of the quintessential snapshots of the financial scene
in North America in the '80s with capitalism, greed and materialism being
so prevalent.
