As the premiere in New York just began, over 3,000 advanced screenings across the USA were concluding. After countless scenes of nudity, drugs, and betrayals, Jordan Belfort was finally arrested by the police. Justice seemed to be served, and the law appeared to be upheld.
However, with Jordan Belfort betraying Donnie Azoff and others, he spent only twenty-two months in prison before being released. He then became a motivational speaker teaching sales techniques, seemingly reformed and a good person.
But Murphy wasn't Martin Scorsese, and having fallen out with Jordan Belfort, he wasn't going to sugarcoat his image. Even before preparing the script, he had gathered substantial evidence against Belfort and incorporated it into the film.
Thus, after two and a half hours of the movie, the last ten minutes continued to depict betrayal, and Jordan Belfort remained a complete scoundrel.
While he was supposed to repay the defrauded clients, his lecture earnings were being funneled through various channels, attracting investigations from the Department of Justice and the FBI. Facing lawyers and the FBI, Jordan Belfort continued to lie and was fined by the Department of Justice.
The film concluded with a scene of an additional trial where Jordan Belfort faced further penalties.
In the courtroom, Jordan Belfort righteously declared that he wouldn't let money and vanity control his mind, claiming that he had become a new person since being sentenced to twenty-two months in 2004.
"We are not the product of our past mistakes, but we grow into new people by learning from them. Thinking of myself as a bad person is somewhat upsetting, but my intention was never to be a bad person," Jordan Belfort defended himself in court. "On Wall Street, it's easy to disconnect from your actions. I shouldn't care too much about others' opinions of me, but I know I'm a good person, so it actually matters to me."
However, the prosecutor scoffed at Belfort's claims, countering, "If you want to paint yourself as just a harmless person who made a mistake, you're sorely mistaken. Jordan Belfort, you're a guy who wakes up every morning thinking, 'What bad thing can I do today?'"
An FBI agent testifying also said, "I've met bad people who do bad things and good people who make mistakes but won't repeat them. Jordan Belfort is clearly a pure villain."
This ending essentially labeled Jordan Belfort, and Murphy wasn't afraid of any backlash from Belfort. The scene was based on a real courtroom incident following Belfort's release, for which Stanton Studios and 20th Century Fox had secured the necessary legal rights.
Although the final courtroom scene portrayed Belfort's post-prison life as still villainous, overall, Murphy didn't take a clear stance in the film. He neither criticized Jordan Belfort explicitly nor praised the honest FBI agents. The film played out more like a documentary, capturing the opulence and debauchery in a straightforward manner, presenting it all to the audience over nearly three hours.
"Human nature driven by money turns to wolfish instincts," wrote Todd McCarthy, a columnist from The Hollywood Reporter, as he left the theater. "This is a story of human desire triumphing over reason."
Hurrying back to his office, Todd McCarthy immediately updated his social media.
"In terms of comedic effect, visual appeal, plot arrangement, and performances, Murphy Stanton's 'The Wolf of Wall Street' lives up to his great reputation. Some may find the film's explicitness excessive, but money, beauty, and drugs are at the core and soul of this movie. Wall Street's obsession with money mirrors its dependency on drugs, and this dependency is paralleled by the allure of beauty. These intertwined layers form the decadent lifestyle of Wall Street and highlight their inherent wolfish nature."
"'The Wolf of Wall Street' is a raw, blood-soaked blade that discards warmth and sentimentality. Murphy Stanton uses it to pierce through the facade, directly targeting the heart of the era's sins."
After posting on Twitter and Facebook, Todd McCarthy browsed the sites. Unlike some older, stubborn critics, he knew that to avoid becoming obsolete in the era of instant information sharing, he needed to keep up with societal developments.
He wasn't the only critic with such insights. On social media, he quickly saw reviews from his peers.
"In 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' Murphy Stanton's precise direction showcases opulence without being gaudy, and the intricate management of scenes invites contemplation without being frivolous. Bold visuals deliver a strong impact without being superficial, repeatedly driving the film's emotions to their peak."
"These qualities force us to embrace the film, embrace Murphy, embrace Downey. Who says you can't make a great film by confronting greed and directly facing evil?"
Even typically sarcastic critics from The New Yorker praised Murphy Stanton and the film.
Todd McCarthy continued scrolling through his peers' social media updates, seeing that Kenneth Turan from the Los Angeles Times had also updated his Facebook.
"After watching 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' the most talked-about scenes will likely be the scandalous depictions of debauchery within Wall Street elite clubs. Indeed, Murphy Stanton masterfully controls the rhythm between these colorful scenes, pushing from one climax to the next. The unabashed displays of nudity and corruption create a grand, absurd symphony, with one segment leading to another, filled with darkness, humor, and exhilaration, providing ample entertainment."
Clearly, Kenneth Turan also held a positive view of the film.
Finally, Todd McCarthy opened Roger Ebert's official blog. Given Ebert's well-known health issues in recent years, he didn't expect much. However, to his surprise, Ebert had seen "The Wolf of Wall Street" and updated his blog five minutes ago.
Of course, he knew Ebert had a whole team behind him, and while the review might not have been written by Ebert himself, it certainly reflected his views as a Pulitzer Prize winner.
"This is an atypical Murphy Stanton film, full of passion and energy, a fantastic black comedy: swift, humorous, and utterly vile."
"In the film, the young Murphy Stanton vividly portrays the mad, greedy lives of Wall Street stockbrokers. Robert Downey Jr.'s unrestrained performance exposes the ugly, drug-fueled side of Wall Street to the audience, making this nearly three-hour film a wild, captivating ride."
"Furthermore, under Murphy Stanton's clever direction, the drug scenes featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Jonah Hill, paired with music, exude a strong sense of dark humor. Their outrageous actions due to drug use push the film to its extremes, providing rollercoaster-like thrills throughout the viewing experience."
"Overall, Murphy Stanton's new film deserves a thumbs-up!"
Reading Ebert's review, Todd McCarthy reflected on the recent media frenzy surrounding Murphy Stanton. Ebert's prompt viewing wasn't surprising.
The series of recent events, combined with the inherent appeal of Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., along with 20th Century Fox's promotional efforts, had drawn large audiences to the advance screenings of "The Wolf of Wall Street." While specific numbers were yet to be confirmed, after the premiere and returning to the Upper East Side apartment, Gal Gadot showed Murphy the latest trends on Twitter and Facebook. Both social networks were flooded with content related to the film.
"I never thought Murphy's 'The Wolf of Wall Street' would be so engaging. The explicit and decadent party life, the drug culture in the industry, new drug experiences, and Robert Downey Jr.'s wild performance, constantly avoiding sobriety. His speeches vividly demonstrate his character's leadership and charisma, making the film highly entertaining and memorable."
"This film clearly shows the near-madness of Murphy Stanton, Robert Downey Jr., and Jonah Hill. It might be Murphy's film with the most uses of 'f***,' pushing boundaries in dialogue and content. No wonder the first cut was rated NC-17. The overall tone matches the promotion. What an incredible life and group of people! Five stars for the director and actors!"
"This biographical film is a crazy comedy, not crude humor but high-class debauchery. The director is indeed Murphy! Most of the film depicts their hedonistic lifestyle, from entering Wall Street to ending in prison, showing how desire grows and humanity falls. Also, never expect Murphy's films to offer proper moral lessons or educational content..."
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