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OTHER WEBSITES
**to link directly to a site, click
on the http address**
Film Sites
"Fact Sheet" on Wall Street(http://www.eonline.com/Facts/Movies/0,60,18671,00.html)
This web site by E! Online provides a cast list of Wall Street.
The viewer can click on any one of the main actors, actresses, and even
on Oliver Stone to find out some information about the characters that
they played in the movie along with some other ventures. This site
also provides a brief summary of the movie. At the bottom of
the site there is a place where you can order the movie.
"Greed is Good Again. Just Don't Tell Anyone"
by Fred Vogelstein (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/971215/15bonu.htm)
In this site, Vogelstein compares the “Greed is Good 80’s” to the “Sober
and Debt-Free 90’s.” It has been over a decade since Stone produced
the movie Wall Street and the “financial pirates” such as Henry
Kravis and Ivan Boesky made millions on corporate raiding and “hostile
takeovers.” While many thought that the “greed is good” attitude
would end with the 80’s, “Wall Street hasn’t been sticking to the script.”
Vogelstein explains how, in the 90’s on Wall Street, “takeovers have been
more numerous” and initial public offerings have been more lucrative.”
The main difference between the 80’s and 90's is that the tycoons of the
90's have gained a softer image through using less hostile takeovers and
focusing more on philanthropy.
"Wall Street" by Roger Ebert(http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert-_reviews/1987/12/268135.html)
In this site, Ebert describes the major characters in the movie and
the minor characters who support them. Ebert emphasizes Stone’s major
achievements and weaknesses. Ebert questions whether or not Charlie
Sheen was the best choice for the lead: “If the film has a flaw it
is that Sheen never quite seems relentless enough to move into Gekko’s
circle.” On the other hand, Stone’s most impressive achievement is
that he takes a very complicated business setting and uses this setting
to tell a story that can be followed by the average person. “The
movie can be followed by anyone, because the details of the stock manipulation
are filtered through by transparent layers of greed.” According to
Ebert, Stone’s film “is an attack on an atmosphere of financial competitiveness
so ferocious that ethics are simply irrelevant.” This site relates
the ‘90’s business tycoon, Donald Trump, to characters in Wall Street,
specifically Gekko. Ebert proposes that Donald Trump is unlike Gekko
because “money no longer interests [Trump] very much. He is more
motivated by the challenge of the deal and by the desire to win.”
"Wall Street" by Jonathan Rosenbaum (http://onfilm.chireader.com/MovieCaps/W/WA/09059_WALL_STREET.html)
This web site provides a brief review of Wall Street by Jonathan
Rosenbaum. In this review Rosenbaum draws a parallel between the
first half of Wall Street and Ayn Rand’s writing. Rosenbaum describes
Wall
Street’s moral battle and “machoism” as an “urban western.” Rosenbaum
comments on the similarity between Platoon and Wall Street
in which both main characters struggle with the influence of two fathers.
In this review Rosenbaum brings up the interesting point that women play
no role in this movie other than “status symbols.”
"Wall Street" by Randy Williams (http://www.tripod.com/exlore/jobs_carer/review/film/961011wallst.html)
This site contains both a summary and review of the movie Wall Street.
First, Williams concentrates on giving a brief overview of the movie.
All the main characters are described, and several of the famous monologues
are included. William’s specifically focuses on: Gordon Gekko’s ideas
of success—“information is the commodity he admires most”; Gekko’s relationship
with his “pal” Fox; the voices of reason represented by Bud’s father and
Lou and how Bud finally realizes he is being used by Gekko and saves the
airline. Williams also comments on the specific actors and actresses
in the film. Williams describes how “for every solid appearance by
a pro…there is an amateur appearance by a grating non-actor.” Although
Williams feels that some of the scenes and situations are slightly unrealistic,
he concludes that the “movie does a great job of depicting the sensual
allure of wealth and its trappings, as well as the mad adrenaline rush
of the stock exchange floor.”
Related
Sites
"Wall Street's Most Ruthless Cannibal" by Richard
Behar (http://cgi.pathfinder.com/fortune/1998/980608/man.html):
This web site tells the story of Dennis Helliwell, a “ruthless financier”
who “cold-bloodedly ruined relatives and friends.” The author of this article,
Richard Behar, describes Helliwell as “the Hannibal Lecter of Wall Street:
a monetary cannibal who devoured his own loved ones.” This story
of a shrewd and conniving businessman relates perfectly to Wall Street’s
Gordon Gekko. Although Gekko did not cheat family members out of
money, he tore down morals and got his information illegally. Helliwell’s
story is an example of cutthroat businessmen.
"Attitudes of the Rich and Famous" (http://www.igc.apc.org/laborquotes/attitude.html)
This web site relates to the “yuppie ideology” emphasized in Wall
Street. This site is a list of quotes by notable celebrities
or financial tycoons including Donald Trump, the infamous Ivan Boesky,
Imelda Marcos, plus many more. Many of the quotes discuss that greed
is healthy and not a bad thing. This is closely related to Gordon
Gekko’s mentality of “greed is good…greed will save America.” This
web site provides real-life examples of the greed that still exists in
America today.
"Funny Money" by John Powers(http://search.boston.com/globe/magazine/3-22/atwork/)
This site explains some of the fundamental theories of wealth presented
in Wall Street. Powers compares the past tycoons, such as
Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt, to the present-day tycoons, such
as Bill Gates. He relates the billionaires of today to Gordon Gekko,
who “creates nothing.” These tycoons “make money from things that
can’t be seen or touched.” The billionaires of today are building
houses similar to the houses built by Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt.
The difference is that “the money for those homes came from steel and railroads
and oil. The money for these comes from golden crumbs and cyberware,
from Wall Street and the Silicon Valley.” Powers focuses on how the
tycoons of today, the tycoons of Wall Street and the Silicon Valley, don’t
create anything, but want to own everything. This is Gordon Gekko’s
attitude in Wall Street.
