At times we feel we are on the same drugs that he’s taking.
The three-hour long film is a chaotic and hyper-frenzied look at Jordan’s actions. DiCaprio felt the opposite, responding that the film did not set out to glorfiy Belfort’s lifestyle. When The Wolf of Wall Street first came out, many felt that the film was completely glorifying Jordan Belfort’s actions. The films also have many misunderstandings from the audiences and critics alike. The Wolf of Wall Street is a black comedy with overlooked undercurrents of darkness, while Scarface was seen as an over-the-top melodrama that borders on comedy instead of the gritty drama it is going for. Scarface and The Wolf of Wall Street have quite the opposite of problems. Though the films have striking parallels, they also have differences in terms of their genres. But through misinterpretations, many fail to see is though Jordan Belfort and Tony Montana seem like they are on top of the world, their lives are empty and hollow, and their version of success should not be sought after.
Many audiences revere Jordan Belfort and Tony Montana for succeeding in the achieving the ultimate American dream, overcoming humble beginnings to procure a life of dreams where money is no object.
Both films follow the journey of two characters who achieve an abundance of success and then overcome by an overwhelming consumption of wealth and vices in excess. Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street and Brian De Palma’s Scarface have considerable parallels.