Movie Review- Wall Street 2 'Highs and Lows, just like the stock market'

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS - The sequel to eighties superhit ‘Wall Street’ took its time reaching the theatres (23 years!!) but couldn’t have been at a better stage, perfectly complementing the situational backdrop of the struggling stumbling world economies. 

The year is 2001, a glum, older Gordon Gekko (Micheal Douglas) walks out of prison, having completed 8 years for fraud and insider trading. He is reformed, preaches stories of the hopes and the slopes of the bitter world of trading, high finance to anyone who cares to listen. He has catching-up with new-age financial lingo and patching-up with an estranged daughter Winnie (Carrie Mulligan) to do. Cut to 2008, Gordon is in the Big Apple (NYC) to promote his book ‘Is Greed Good?’ Then there’s young hot-shot trader Jake (Shia LaBeouf) who is dating Winnie, but has a hidden intent to take revenge on the venal Bretton James (Josh Brolin) who is responsible for the downfall and subsequent suicide of Jake’s mentor Lewis Zabel (Frank Langella). What happens when Gekko and Jake cross paths is the rest of the plot.

Intertwining, telling three stories of revenge, family and romance, Director Oliver Stone tries hard to measure to the scope and technicalities of the forbearer, but wobbles and loses soul in a glitzy stylish fashion. The story holds your attention but suddenly resorts to inappropriate clichés. Despite its flaws, movie does provide entertainment in edible dollops.

LeBeouf is admirable (maybe a little young) as Moore - brash, yet grounded with a straight, strong act. Michael’s performance measures up to his reputation in Part 1. Sadly, the story crams in needless father-daughter, mentor-protégé tracks going soft, losing focus on the emotions and Michael is a made to be a mere sidekick (albeit a strong one) rather than the boasting villain we yearn to see.   

Verdict: Although no match to the mystique and exhilaration its predecessor, it’s an engaging watch, more-so for the number-crunching-American-dealing execs, who will smirk frown and indulge in utter relevance. However, like most things these days, when remotely connected to the words ‘WALL STREET’, it doesn’t give you your complete money’s worth. The movie has its moments, but as a Wall Street disciple, I wanted a lot more. Afterall, Greed is Good, right?!

On second thoughts: Don't miss the cheeky reference to the India outsourcing/offshoring inc business.