3. The Wolf of Wall Street
Martin Scorsese’s latest picture looks completely nuts, and I mean that in the best possible way. Based on the bawdy memoir of Jordan Belfort, a power-hungry New York stockbroker eventually arrested for investment fraud, The Wolf of Wall Street explores the darker side of Wall Street, complete with sex, drugs, alcohol, and apparently midget-throwing. It looks like a crazy ride, and with Scorsese at the wheel, I can’t wait.
The Wolf of Wall Street‘s nominations will likely come almost entirely from its ultra-talented cast, all of whom have extremely juicy roles to bite into. Leonardo DiCaprio appears equal parts monstrous and charming as Belfort, Jonah Hill is continuing his remarkable career climb as Belfort’s crazy second-in-command, and Matthew McConaughey looks absolutely mesmerizing as Mark Hanna, one of Belfort’s early mentors. Jean Dujardin, Rob Reiner, Kyle Chandler, and Jon Bernthal round out the impressive cast.
Check out the trailer, set to Kanye West’s heart-pounding “Black Skinhead,” below:
A Best Director nod for Scorsese seems all but assured, and DiCaprio, Hill, and McConaughey all appear strong contenders in the acting categories. I’d be surprised if The Wolf of Wall Street doesn’t rank among the Best Picture nominees as well.
The Wolf of Wall Street opens December 25.