Surprisingly decent sequel.

Even before I saw the first film, I didn't think it was a good idea making it and even when I did watch the first film and then the sequel, I didn't even think it needed to be made because some films seem better when they are alone and leave open questions to the audience. Despite this, I actually did enjoy it and I would call it a film that surprised me a lot. I knew what my immediate problem was with it and probably what most people's problem was with this film: Shia LaBeouf's involvement. However, despite that, I actually enjoyed this sequel more than I was expecting to so for me, it is one of the most surprising films of 2010.


In 2001, corporate raider Gordon Gekko completes a prison sentence for money laundering. No one is there to meet him. Jump seven years: Gekko is promoting his book, his estranged daughter Winnie is a political muckraker engaged to Jake Moore, a hot-shot Wall Street trader, and an old nemesis of Gekko's, Bretton James, devours the firm Jake works for. When Jake's mentor takes his life, Jake wants revenge and Gordon may be the perfect ally. With the fiscal crisis of September 2008 as background, can Jake maintain Winnie's love, broker a rapprochement with her father, get his revenge, and find funds for a green-energy project he champions; or will greed trump all?


After his outstanding Oscar winning performance, Michael Douglas reprises his role as Gordon Gekko and, no his performance in the sequel wasn't as fantastic as in the first film but I did think he did deliver a performance that does deserve a few nominations in the top awards. During the time of filming, Douglas was suffering from that throat cancer which now he is cured of and during that time, I deeply admire how committed Douglas was into the film especially the fact he previously won an Oscar for playing that character. There was one thing that mostly disappointed me about this sequel was that Shia LaBeouf was in it more than Michael Douglas was. I will say that not only does Michael take off his dad Kirk by looks but he also does by quality of acting! They are both legends of two generations. I think Shia LaBeouf was what was doubting those who liked the first film whether they would be pleased with the sequel or not but now that Shia has been involved in two franchises (Indiana Jones and Transformers and I guess I would now call Wall Street a series; a duology), he does something in this that perhaps would please viewers but wouldn't. For me, he is the one actor who I have a mixed opinion about despite he is a wildly overrated actor. I think it's mostly, because despite he does star in blockbusters that are mostly just for entertainment, I do think he could pull off a performance in the near future that could be worthy of an Oscar nomination. Carey Mulligan is on a great role at the moment after her fantastic performance in An Education which almost gained her an Academy Award win but did get her, her first Academy Award nomination. Her performance as Winnie Gekko was great and she really did play the character really well of an almost broken woman so to speak due to her father's imprisonment and whether he cared about her at all. Despite, we don't see him in the trailer or any of the posters, there is a mild cameo appearance from Charlie Sheen who was in the first film who reunites with Gekko for a few minutes so that made me smile. Josh Brolin was good as well.


In the past decade, Oliver Stone hasn't done very well at all with the films he has done (except World Trade Center which I really liked) and I think Stone wanted a breakthrough in his career so he decided to make a sequel to one of his most successful films which I do think is the real reason why Stone decided to make this although, quite frankly, he really didn't need to at all. However, I thought it was decently directed but it is no was a breakthrough in his career but we really do need one from him badly otherwise his career will go even further downfall. We need the old Oliver Stone back who did the first Wall Street, Platoon, Born On The Fourth Of July, JFK and Natural Born Killers. Sometimes, I figure it is hard to judge a script for a film like this but there were a few no-no scenes that I didn't really approve of especially some of the Shia LaBeouf business scenes and the lines that come out.


Overall, Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps is a pleasant surprise that I did enjoy but perhaps wouldn't watch again just to save the good experience of it first time. It is a hard film to recommend because if one loves or at least likes the first film, they either will or won't like the sequel. I, on the other hand, like them both. No, this film perhaps didn't need to be made but after watching it and being overall pleased by it, I am glad Stone did come up with the idea. As I said, we need the old Oliver Stone again!