Wall Street (1987) Film Review: A Hard-Hitting Critique of Greed, Ambition, and Corporate Corruption

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a quintessential film about the excesses and moral compromises of the 1980s financial world. Written by Stanley Weiser and starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, and Daryl Hannah, Wall Street explores the tension between personal ambition and corporate ethics, showcasing the alluring yet destructive power of wealth and power in the high-stakes world of stock trading.

The film centers around Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young and ambitious stockbroker who gets caught up in the world of insider trading under the tutelage of Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider known for his famous mantra, "Greed is good." As Bud climbs the ranks of Wall Street, he faces a moral dilemma about how far he is willing to go to achieve financial success and the personal costs that come with it.

The Plot: Greed, Corruption, and Moral Conflict

Bud Fox, a lowly stockbroker at a small brokerage firm, is eager to break into the world of big business. After unsuccessfully trying to land a meeting with Gordon Gekko, a legendary corporate raider, Fox finally gets a chance to pitch Gekko some inside information. Gekko, impressed by Bud’s ambition and willingness to bend the rules, takes him under his wing and introduces him to the world of high-stakes finance and insider trading.

As Fox becomes more involved with Gekko, he rises quickly within the financial world, securing wealth, status, and a luxurious lifestyle. However, as Bud gets deeper into the corrupt practices that define Gekko’s empire, he begins to experience the personal toll of his success. He becomes estranged from his working-class father, Carl (Martin Sheen), a union leader who represents the moral and ethical values that Bud is abandoning in his quest for wealth.

The tension in the film arises from the conflict between Bud’s ambition and the realization that the path he has chosen may be morally wrong. The movie explores the psychological and emotional costs of pursuing wealth and status at the expense of integrity, ultimately forcing Bud to make a choice between his loyalty to Gekko and his desire to redeem himself and repair his relationship with his father.

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko: A Defining Performance of Corporate Greed

Michael Douglas’s portrayal of Gordon Gekko is one of the most iconic performances in cinema history. Gekko is the embodiment of corporate greed, a ruthless and manipulative financier who has no qualms about exploiting others for his own gain. With his sleek suits, sharp tongue, and confident demeanor, Gekko is both charismatic and terrifying, a figure who represents the darkest aspects of capitalism.

Douglas’s performance is magnetic, capturing the cold, calculating nature of Gekko, while also adding a layer of charm that makes him dangerously persuasive. His delivery of the famous line "Greed is good" has become synonymous with the film and is emblematic of Gekko’s philosophy—he believes that personal greed and the pursuit of wealth are justifiable, even virtuous. Gekko’s character is a direct reflection of the financial culture of the 1980s, a time when excess, ambition, and deregulation were the driving forces of Wall Street.

Through Gekko, Wall Street critiques the moral decay that comes with the pursuit of profit at all costs. Gekko is portrayed not just as a villain but as a product of the system, a man who exploits the weaknesses of others to build his empire. Douglas’s performance is both compelling and chilling, making Gekko a character that is impossible to forget.

Charlie Sheen as Bud Fox: A Journey of Moral Conflict

Charlie Sheen plays Bud Fox, the ambitious young stockbroker who is seduced by the promise of wealth and power that Gekko represents. Sheen’s performance is both earnest and conflicted, capturing the character’s journey from an eager, wide-eyed rookie to a morally compromised man caught between ambition and conscience. Bud’s transformation is a key element of the film, as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and the realization that his success is built on unethical foundations.

Sheen does an excellent job of portraying Bud’s internal struggle. He is not portrayed as inherently bad but as a man who has been corrupted by the allure of money and success. His emotional journey is a critical aspect of the film, as he faces the consequences of his actions and ultimately decides whether he will continue down the path of moral corruption or seek redemption. Sheen’s performance effectively conveys the vulnerability and complexity of a character who is torn between his ambition and his desire for self-respect.

The Themes: Greed, Capitalism, and the Search for Morality

At its core, Wall Street is a scathing critique of the greed-driven culture that dominated Wall Street in the 1980s. The film presents the financial world as a place where success is defined by wealth and power, regardless of the means used to achieve it. Through the characters of Gordon Gekko and Bud Fox, the film explores the dangers of ambition unchecked by ethics and the personal costs of living in a world that prioritizes profit above all else.

The central theme of the film, encapsulated in Gekko’s famous mantra "Greed is good," is the moral decay that accompanies the pursuit of wealth at any cost. The film presents Gekko’s philosophy as both seductive and dangerous, showing how individuals can be easily manipulated by the promise of financial success. Gekko’s belief that the free market justifies any behavior is challenged by the personal consequences that Bud faces as he realizes the toll that his actions have taken on his relationships and his own sense of morality.

The film also highlights the importance of personal integrity and loyalty. Bud’s relationship with his father, Carl, is a central emotional element of the story. Carl represents a more traditional, working-class sense of ethics and responsibility, contrasting sharply with the world of greed and manipulation that Bud enters. The conflict between father and son underscores the film’s message about the importance of personal values and the danger of losing oneself in the pursuit of wealth.

Oliver Stone’s Direction: Intensity and Social Critique

Oliver Stone’s direction in Wall Street is sharp and focused, using a mix of intense drama and social commentary to create a film that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Stone’s approach to the material is straightforward, with the pacing keeping the tension high as the stakes escalate throughout the film. The film’s tone is both urgent and reflective, capturing the fast-paced world of Wall Street while also offering a critique of the greed-driven culture that defined it.

Stone uses the contrast between the luxurious offices of the financial world and the more humble, working-class environments of Bud’s father to highlight the film’s central themes. The use of locations and cinematography helps create a stark visual dichotomy between the world of wealth and the world of ethics, underscoring the tension between personal ambition and moral integrity.

The Score and Soundtrack: Defining the 1980s

The film’s score, composed by Stuart Copeland, is energetic and reflective of the 1980s financial world. The music complements the fast-paced, high-stakes drama, using a mix of jazz and electronic elements to set the tone for the world of corporate trading. The soundtrack, featuring songs like "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, adds to the atmosphere, further emphasizing the themes of wealth, greed, and the desire for financial success.

Conclusion: A Timeless Critique of Greed and Capitalism

Wall Street remains a powerful and relevant film that critiques the greed and moral decay of corporate culture. With standout performances from Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, a sharp script by Stanley Weiser, and Oliver Stone’s incisive direction, the film offers a compelling look at the dangers of ambition unchecked by ethics. Gordon Gekko’s iconic line, "Greed is good," continues to resonate as a symbol of the excesses and flaws of the financial world, making Wall Street not just a critique of the 1980s but a timeless examination of the human cost of corporate success.

The film’s exploration of the conflict between personal ambition and moral integrity, coupled with its portrayal of the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, makes it an essential watch for anyone interested in the intersection of finance, ethics, and human nature. Wall Street is a powerful reminder that success without a moral compass can ultimately lead to ruin—both professionally and personally.