WALL STREET – MONEY NEVER SLEEPS

Gordon Gekko’s back: but not with a bang...

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Directed by Oliver Stone

Starring Shia LaBoeuf, Michael Douglas

The return of Gordon Gekko couldn’t be better timed.

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As we emerge from the worst recession since the 1920s, the idea of dusting down a character synonymous with corporate greed seems appropriate.

But, weirdly, with such resonant context, Gekko’s resurrection is disappointing. This isn’t a savage satire on corrupt business practices. No. It’s a relationship drama.

One can often admire Oliver Stone for the bloody-minded way he does the exact opposite of what you expect. Here, though, the decision to sideline Gekko to focus on a by-numbers love story between LaBoeuf’s Wall St trader and Carey Mulligan, as Gekko’s estranged activist daughter, is questionable.

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There are good performances, but LeBoeuf and Mulligan aren’t strong enough leads.

Only a colossal act of bastardy from Gekko lifts this anywhere close to the original.

Michael Bonner

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