A hallowed text for aspiring sales sharks – as chronicled in 2000’s superior Boiler Room – Wall Street is blustery and unsophisticated, like many of the movies of Oliver Stone. It’s a cautionary tale that plays more like a recruiting video, which is why wannabe traders watch it the same way wannabe gangsters watch Scarface. The picture’s fatal flaw, however, is its cast. Charlie Sheen stars as Bud Fox, a low-level broker who idolizes shady trader Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) and eventually goes to work for him. This involves, of course, selling his soul, an experience Sheen ironically seems incapable of communicating. Sheen’s blankness – and occasional, awkward crying scene – is nothing compared to that of Daryl Hannah as an interior designer to the rich who snags Bud as a client (and more) as he rises to the top. Her garish displays – including animal prints and faux brick – are 10 times more expressive than anything on Hannah’s impassive face. That leaves us with Douglas, who won an Oscar for his performance and plays the part as if he were already walking up to the podium to collect his award. Douglas gets one good speech – which includes the film’s famous declaration that greed is good – yet far too often the dialogue in Wall Street doesn’t live up to Douglas’ devilish demeanor. Someone who spends this much time barking into the phone should have more creative insults to dispense than repeated threats to shove things in delicate places.
