TRUE STORY (2015) – My rating: 8/10

True Story is actually a true story.  A very suspenseful movie that reminds me a little of “Primal Fear“ and a little of “Jagged Edge“.  These are 2 very different stories but similar in technicality and emotions.  Also, True Story is a real story about Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill), a Journalist for the NY Times, who partially fabricated a story to gain preferential support for African children receiving charity.  When discovered, Mike was disgraced and fired from the Times.  He then embarked on the case of Christian Longo (James Franco) who used Mike’s name (as in identity thief) for some unknown reason.  This lead to a phone call to Mike from a reporter for The Oregonian, which peaked Mike’s curiosity.  Christian is accused of killing his wife and 3 children, motive unknown.  Christian and Mike began to meet and decided to write a book, to be published after Christian’s trial was over.  A game of cat and mouse perused throughout their relationship.  Christian was a bit of an enigma as he pleaded not guilty to 2 of the murders and guilty to the other 2, after telling Mike he was not guilty.  This caused Mike to doubt Christian’s sanity and honor.    As of this review, Christian is still alive on death row and has published several of his writings on the murders in the NY Times.  Finkel has never again written for the Times, to date.  The movie was very well acted and very well directed (Rupert Goold).  True Story didn’t make big headlines but I think it’s worth seeing.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013) – My rating: 9/10

The Wolf of Wall Street (“TWOWS”) is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort and is among the best of the Wall Street sagas.  It is 1 minute shy of 3 hours long.  I didn’t find it the least bit boring or uninteresting.  In fact, it is a roller coaster of greed, dishonesty, crime, drugs and sex —  not that this is a good thing but it’s real.  Leo DiCaprio has fulfilled the role of a life time.  His character was somewhat similar to his role in the Great Gatsby, only bumped up 10 fold to round out his performance as an up and coming financial broker.  I haven’t seen the likes of “TWOWS” since Johnny Depp’s “Blow”.  Jonah Hill was equally as brilliant as Leo’s loyal side kick who will do anything to make a buck.  This movie shows us the real risk of investing in the stock market.  Of course all is not corrupt, but that’s something one needs to investigate before jumping in, feet first!

As an older person with patience and sense, I was disturbed by the fast paced craziness that exist with the young and greedy in this environment.  A large part of  The Wolf of Wall Street dealt with extreme, disturbing  behavior.  It took us through the biggest investment banking trading floors, selling stocks to the rich, all the way to a hole in the wall selling penny stocks to the poor, then back to trading with the rich.  It was all about the bottom line, MONEY!  The Wolf of Wall Street is a real eye opener that you won’t soon forget.  Martin Scorsese certainly produced a masterpiece that I think deserves  Oscar nods for best picture, best actor, best supporting actor and best director.  It’s a world wind of a movie.