#14: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

I walked into this movie expecting something similar to the first - a decent flick. I walked out impressed.

I've liked Shia LaBoeuf since Even Stevens, but here he did a better job than I would have expected with a high-powered Wall Street type. I most recently remember him from Transformers, where he plays a nervous, nerdy high-schooler. Coming out of that to play a tough-talking, motorcycle-driving stock broker was a big transition, to say the least. This is the first LaBoeuf character I've ever seen that is dealing with real adult issues. Money, parental issues, love, and the rest of the wonderful grabbag of responsibilities that come with being an adult change the game for his character, but he didn't disappoint.

I thought the movie was a great, modern counterpart to Wall Street. While it doesn't abandon the plot elements or characters from the first movie, it doesn't get stuck on them either. The grim realities of the modern market play a big role in this sequel, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture of the role banks played in the crisis.

Michael Douglas' return as Gordon Gecko was perfectly played, in my opinion. To say any more might hurt your experience with it, but my advice is this: Go see Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Overall Rating: 7.9 / 10


-Taylor Dobbs



When I saw the preview for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, I thought it looked amazing. Shortly after seeing it, not so much. To be brutally honest, not one of my favorites this year. I was really upset after I saw this movie. I agree with Taylor; I think Shia LeBouf is amazing at what he does, and Michael Douglas is always going to be great playing Gordon Gekko. The acting doesn't necessarily make the movie great though. I thought it was very similar to the original Wall Street, just updated and somewhat tedious at times throughout the film. I guess it was worth seeing for me, but if I was to recommend a movie out this year, it would most definitely not be this one. If you love the stock market and work on Wall Street, then you'll enjoy it. But like I said, definitely not my favorite. I thought it could have been way more exciting than it was. If you see this and you didn't see the first, you really won't miss much. Only small details will travel a longer way for those who did see the original starring Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas. All in all, slightly disappointed but glad to have seen it.

Overall Rating: 7.5 / 10

- Josh Berg

#11: Wall Street

Wall Street is just one of those classics. For those who've seen the preview for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, you're probably in for a treat because it looks amazing. Getting back to the first Wall Street, Charlie Sheen plays the young gun who tries to make it in the business world. Michael Douglas is pure genius playing the role of Gordon Gecko. The movie is a little dated but it doesn't take away as much from the movie as you might expect of a movie made in 1987. The Sheen family is well represented in Wall Street, as Charlie Sheen plays Bud Fox and Martin Sheen plays the father of Charlie's character. Wall Street had an intriguing plot, but it seemed like the universal standing of the film could have been even better.

We look forward to seeing what Shia LeBeouf brings to the table as he stars in the new Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps alongside Michael Douglas, returning as Gordon Gecko.

Overall Rating: 7.7 / 10

- Josh Berg

Wall Street is one of those classics I just hadn't gotten around to seeing. It very much reminded me of the newer Al Pacino flick Two For the Money, but the fact that it was Wall Street instead of sports betting made all the stakes much higher in Wall Street.

I have to say, the title "Wall Street" didn't have me expecting much. Watching a movie about stock trading didn't seem like it could go anywhere exciting, but I was impressed. A young Charlie Sheen did a great mix of a scared what-on-earth-am-I-doing new guy and the overconfident rookie. Michael Douglas, as usual, nailed the role.

I was a little disappointed with the ending, as the audience loses touch with Douglas' character to follow Sheen's, but overall I liked the movie and look forward to seeing the sequel.

Overall Rating: 7.6 / 10


-Taylor Dobbs